HSE seeks to reduce £800m annual slips & trips bill
January 1st 2006

The HSE has stepped up its Watch Your Step campaign to reduce the £800 million burden workplace falls place on the UK economy each year - £500m of which is directly borne by business.

Over 40 000 incidents were recorded last year - equivalent to one person falling and hurting themselves in a British workplace every three minutes - and those are only reported inciidents: the real number is likely to be higher.

The cross industry campaign aims to highlight the scale of the problem for UK businesses; encourage people too take the risks seriously; and raise awareness about cost-effective measures tha can be put in place to reduce incidents and keep the financial and human burden to a minimum.

The majority of falls are caused by slipping on spillages; tripping over materials, cables products, furniture and fittings; and human factors including failure to report and manage risks.

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