Preventing Slips & Trips

Why you need it

Kitchen floors get wet, greasy and busy, and slips and trips are among the most common causes of injury in catering. A fall near hot oil or a sharp knife can be far more serious.

Employers must keep floors and traffic routes in good condition and, so far as reasonably practicable, free from anything likely to cause a slip or trip.

What it’s for

Four steps for safer floors: dealing with spills promptly, keeping walkways clear, reporting leaks and damaged flooring, and working at a safe pace. It also explains why a warning sign alone does not stop people walking on a wet floor. It belongs in kitchens and corridors.

How to use it

1. Fix it where staff walk most, such as the kitchen entrance or near the wash-up.
2. Clean spills as soon as they happen, dry the floor and keep people off it until it is safe.
3. Store deliveries, bags and cables away from walkways.
4. Report leaks, damaged flooring and loose mats so they are fixed promptly.
5. Wear suitable slip-resistant footwear, and report near misses as well as falls.