Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls at Work: The Importance of Good Housekeeping

Slips, trips and falls at work remain one of the leading causes of workplace accidents in Great Britain. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips, trips and falls on the same level accounted for 30% of all non-fatal workplace injuries reported by employers in 2024/25, making them the most common type of workplace accident.

The good news is that many of these incidents are preventable. Simple housekeeping measures, such as cleaning up spills promptly, keeping walkways clear and repairing damaged flooring, can significantly reduce the risk of injury. By implementing effective workplace housekeeping procedures and carrying out regular workplace risk assessments, employers can create a safer working environment for employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public.

Why Good Housekeeping Matters in Workplace Safety

When most people think about workplace accidents, they often imagine complex machinery or hazardous substances. In reality, something as simple as a trailing cable, a wet floor or poor lighting can result in a serious injury.

Poor housekeeping is one of the most common causes of slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Left unchecked, small hazards can quickly lead to accidents, lost working time, increased costs and potential legal claims. Good housekeeping helps businesses by:

• Reducing workplace injuries and accidents
• Improving health and safety compliance
• Lowering sickness absence and lost productivity
• Creating a safer and more professional working environment
• Demonstrating a positive health and safety culture

What Does the Law Say About Slips, Trips and Falls?

Employers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent slips, trips and falls at work. Key legislation includes:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees, and must not expose others (visitors, contractors, members of the public) to risk.
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – employers must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, act on its findings and review it. Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings. The regulations also require specific consideration of young people under 18.
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 – floors and traffic routes must be suitable, in good condition and, so far as reasonably practicable, kept free of obstructions and anything that could cause someone to slip, trip or fall. Workplaces must also be kept clean and have suitable and sufficient lighting.
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) – certain workplace injuries, including specified injuries such as most fractures and injuries that keep a worker off normal duties for more than seven days, must be reported to the HSE.

What Causes Slips, Trips and Falls?

Most incidents come down to three things: the state of the workplace, the people in it and the conditions around them.

Poor housekeeping

Spills, wet or contaminated floors, trailing cables, items left in walkways, and damaged or uneven flooring are the most common culprits. Hazards like these build up quickly when there is no routine for spotting and dealing with them.

Human factors

Some activities, such as cleaning and maintenance, temporarily increase the risk by leaving floors wet or equipment out. Even well-trained, experienced staff can make mistakes, so don't rely on training alone. Use physical controls and safe systems of work as well, such as cleaning outside busy periods, barriers and signage around wet areas, and cable covers.

Think carefully about people who may be more at risk:

• children, older people and anyone with a disability, including visual impairments
• young workers and new starters, who may not yet recognise hazards
• workers with limited English, who may not fully understand signs, instructions or training

The law requires you to provide information, instruction and training that people can understand, so check that yours reaches everyone.

Environmental factors

The surroundings can make a slip, trip or fall much more likely:

Lighting – poor lighting, or excessive glare, makes it harder to spot hazards.

Noise – a noisy or busy area can distract people from what is underfoot.

Weather – rain, ice, snow and autumn leaves can create hazards on their own or hide others. Entrances, car parks and outdoor routes need extra attention in winter.

How to Carry Out a Slip, Trip and Fall Risk Assessment

Every employer must assess the risks to employees and to anyone else affected by their work, such as visitors, contractors and members of the public. The HSE's five steps to risk assessment are a practical way to do it:

1. Identify the hazards. Walk the whole site, including outdoor areas, stairs, storerooms and places that are rarely used. Ask staff where they have had near misses.
2. Decide who might be harmed and how. Include employees, visitors, contractors and the public, and give particular thought to the more vulnerable groups above.
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on controls. Look at what is already in place and whether it is enough. Where you can, remove the hazard altogether (for example, re-routing a cable) before relying on signs or personal protective equipment such as slip-resistant footwear.
4. Record your findings and put them into practice. If you have five or more employees, you must write down the significant findings. Even if you have fewer, a written record helps you show what you have done.
5. Review and update. Check your assessment is still valid whenever something changes, such as new equipment, a layout change, new flooring or new staff, and after any accident or near miss.

The law does not set a fixed review date, but it is good practice to revisit your assessment at least once a year so it doesn't go out of date.

Make it Part of How You Work

A risk assessment only helps if it is followed through. The HSE recommends a Plan, Do, Check, Act approach, set out in its guide Managing for health and safety (HSG65):

• Plan – identify your problem areas, set clear goals and agree who will do what, and by when.
• Do – put the controls in place and involve your workforce. Employers have a legal duty to consult employees on health and safety, and the people doing the job often know best where the hazards are.
• Check – carry out regular inspections to make sure controls are working and procedures are followed. Make it easy for staff to report hazards, near misses and minor accidents, as these often reveal trends before someone is seriously hurt.
• Act – learn from accident investigations, inspections and near-miss reports, then update your controls and your management arrangements.

Workplace Housekeeping Checklist for Employers

• Clean up spills straight away and use signs or barriers until floors are dry.
• Keep walkways, stairs and fire exits clear of boxes, bags and equipment.
• Route cables away from walkways or use cable covers.
• Report and repair damaged flooring, loose mats and broken lights promptly.
• Make sure lighting is adequate, especially on stairs and outdoor routes.
• Grit and clear outdoor routes in icy weather, and sweep up wet leaves.
• Provide suitable footwear where your risk assessment shows it is needed.

A clean, tidy workplace is a safer one for everyone who works in or visits it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common cause of slips, trips and falls at work?

Poor housekeeping is one of the leading causes of slips, trips and falls at work. Common hazards include wet floors, trailing cables, cluttered walkways, poor lighting and damaged flooring.

Are employers legally required to prevent slips and trips?

Yes. Employers have legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and related health and safety regulations to assess risks and take reasonably practicable steps to prevent workplace accidents.

How often should a slips and trips risk assessment be reviewed?

There is no fixed legal review period, but risk assessments should be reviewed whenever there are significant changes and after accidents or near misses. Many employers review them annually as good practice.

How can good housekeeping improve workplace safety?

Good housekeeping helps remove common workplace hazards, reduces accident risks, improves compliance with health and safety law and promotes a positive safety culture.

Need Help Managing Workplace Health & Safety?

Preventing slips, trips and falls is often about getting the basics right. However, staying on top of risk assessments, inspections, accident reporting, training and legal compliance can be challenging when you're busy running a business.

Our Health & Safety Membership service provides practical, ongoing support to help you create a safer workplace and meet your legal obligations with confidence. Members benefit from expert advice, access to essential health and safety documentation, policy and risk assessment support, legislative updates, and guidance whenever issues arise.

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Get in touch today to find out how our Health & Safety Membership can help protect your business, your employees and your reputation.

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