What is this document?
INDG225 is the HSE's brief guide to preventing slips and trips at work. Slips and trips are the single most common cause of major injuries in UK workplaces, yet most are easily preventable with straightforward, low-cost measures.
The guidance helps employers understand the causes of slips and trips and provides practical solutions to reduce the risk.
Who needs to read this?
- Employers in any workplace with walking surfaces
- Facility managers and building owners responsible for premises
- Landlords and property managers with duties for common areas
- Care home managers where residents and staff are at particular risk
- Kitchen and catering managers dealing with wet and contaminated floors
- Retail managers responsible for shop floor safety
- Cleaning contractors whose work affects slip risk
- Health and safety advisors assessing slip and trip hazards
Key points covered
The HSE guidance addresses:
- Why slips and trips matter - scale of injuries and costs
- Common causes of slips - contamination, floor type, footwear, cleaning methods
- Common causes of trips - obstacles, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, trailing cables
- Risk assessment for slip and trip hazards
- Practical prevention measures that are often simple and inexpensive
- Flooring selection and when floors may need changing
- Cleaning methods that reduce rather than increase risk
- Footwear and its role in slip prevention
- Special environments including kitchens and food preparation areas
How this applies to you
Understand the causes
Slips happen when there is too little friction between footwear and the floor. Common causes:
- Wet floors (water, drinks, rain brought in from outside)
- Contamination (oil, grease, food, dust, cleaning products)
- Unsuitable floor surfaces for the environment
- Wrong footwear for the conditions
- Poor cleaning methods that leave residue
Trips happen when someone's foot strikes an object or surface. Common causes:
- Trailing cables across walkways
- Uneven or damaged floor surfaces
- Items left in walkways
- Poor lighting
- Changes in level without warning
- Loose mats or carpet edges
Assess your risks
Walk around your workplace and look for:
- Where floors get wet or contaminated
- Where people have slipped or tripped before (or nearly have)
- Uneven surfaces, worn carpet, damaged tiles
- Obstacles in walkways
- Areas with poor lighting
- Changes in floor level or surface type
Put controls in place
Most slip and trip hazards can be controlled with simple measures:
For slips:
- Stop contamination at source (fix leaks, contain splashes)
- Clean up spills immediately
- Use effective cleaning methods (don't leave wet residue)
- Consider floor surface suitability
- Provide suitable footwear where needed
- Use entrance matting to catch water from outside
- Put up warning signs when floors are wet (but don't rely on signs alone)
For trips:
- Keep walkways clear of obstacles
- Route cables away from walkways or protect them
- Fix uneven or damaged flooring
- Improve lighting in circulation areas
- Secure mats and rugs
- Mark changes in level clearly
Don't just put up a sign
Warning signs are not a substitute for dealing with the hazard. A "Caution: Wet Floor" sign does not prevent someone slipping - you still need to dry the floor, fix the leak, or divert people around the hazard.
Related Safety Clarity content
- Workplace Safety Requirements - General employer health and safety duties including slips, trips, and falls prevention
Source: This page summarises HSE guidance document INDG225. For the full official guidance, visit the HSE website.