Latest figures from the Health and Safety Authority have confirmed that slips, trips and falls are the largest causes of accidents in all sectors.
In Ireland hundreds of people are injured each year in slips, trips and falls. They account for over 17% of all notified four day injuries with 21% of injured people unable to work for over a month.
The figures show that nearly 50% of all claims made against Retailers are slips, trips and fall cases and they were the major cause of workplace accidents reviewed by the Injuries Board in 2009.
22% of workplaces surveyed by HSA Inspectors had not carried out a slip, trip and fall assessment.
Speaking about the dangers of injury from slips, trips and falls Liam Moloney, Personal Injury Solicitor said today “ under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2005 Employers are obliged to carry out risk assessments and to record these in a safety statement. Causes of slips, trips and falls can include manual handling, footpath, corridors, halls and floor cleaning, wet surfaces and steep stairs”.
In relation to stairs and steps both ascending and descending stairs can be very dangerous. Descending stairs may be more likely to cause accidents and these accidents may result in more serious injuries. As well as stairs and steps, ramps and kerbs also have to be considered”
“It is concerning to note that between 2010 and 2012, HAS Inspectors found that 22% of all workplaces surveyed had no slip, trip and fall risk assessment even though the 2005 act obliged
Employers to carry out same and to have the assessment recorded in a safety statement”.
Employers will be found liable if they do not comply with their statutory obligations to provide a safe place of work for Employees.
