Health, Safety and Environment

Ten Facts About Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips and trips at Work are responsible for, on average:

1. Over a third of all reported major injuries (1).
2. 20% of over-three-day injuries to employees (1).
3. 11,000 major injuries per year, more than 80% of which result in fractures (2).
4. Two fatalities per year (1).
5. Cost to employers of £500 million per year (lost production and other costs) (2).
6. Costs to the UK economy estimated at £800 million annually (2).
7. Cost to the Health Service of £133 million annually (1).
8. More major injuries in manufacturing and the service sectors than any other cause (1).
9. Over 90% of those injured being absent from work for at least one week (1).
10. Over a million working days lost each year (3).

As the facts show, slips and trips do not usually just result in embarrassment or bruised pride - they can prove very costly slip-ups in many other ways.

Health and Safety Facts and Figures

Sources

1. HSE - Slips and trips? - Find out more
2. HSE - Watch your step
3. European Week for Safety & Health, an HSE publication.