NEWS RELEASES
Watch your step!
18 July 2008
A CAMPAIGN is being launched today to minimise the amount of slips and trips in catering establishments in the Horsham District.
Launched by Horsham District Council and supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the campaign aims to make businesses more aware of the risks and cost involved with slips and trips.
Despite efforts, such catering accidents are not reducing.
Slips and trips are often seen as a joke or being the victim’s own fault, however in reality nothing could be further from the truth.
To help reduce the risk of slipping in kitchens, Horsham District Council is putting together a pack of practical information called ‘Stop Slips in Catering’. This pack contains practical advice on how to prevent slips.
As well as the personal cost, accidents can leave businesses short staffed and cost money through sick pay, compensation claims and increased insurance costs.
The biggest barriers to putting the problems right include:
- Employees and businesses not taking the risks seriously
- Little understanding of the causes of slipping
- Thinking slips and trips are inevitable
- Poor appreciation of risk assessment and management controls
Employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to protect their employees and members of the public. They also have a duty to carry out a risk assessment to identify and control slips and trips.
Further advice about slips and trips is freely available from Horsham District Council on 01403 215453 or email publichealth.licensing@horsham.gov.uk
Alternatively Workplace Health Connect (0845 609 6006) is working in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive and offers free, confidential and impartial advice for small businesses with five to 250 workers.
Ends
Notes to editors
Horsham District Council is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of health and safety in catering premises.
Future visits by the Council’s Environmental Health officers will focus on how businesses are controlling risks from slips and trips.
The ‘Stop Slips in Catering’ pack is due to be sent out today, Friday 18 July, and is being posted to all catering premises in the Horsham District.
Nationally, slips and trips are responsible for:
*Over a third of all reported major injuries
*20% of over three day injuries to employees
*two fatalities each year
*50% of reported accidents to members of the public that happen in workplaces
*Cost to employers £512 million each year
*Cost to health service £133 million each year
*Incalculable human cost
*Statistics are provided by the Health and Safety Executive
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk