School sites can be busy with large numbers of people rushing around simultaneously, so it is no surprise that slips and trips constitute the majority of accidents on education premises. As a wide range of facilities are open to the whole community, often there are many employees and members of the public that aren’t familiar with the school grounds navigating around and thus, they are much more vulnerable to hazards.
Health and safety in schools should be a number one priority for every establishment, so this article aims to help you minimise risk and prevent slips and trips from occurring in the first place.
A quick insight into how and where slips and trips occur
While some people may just be more clumsy than others, the actual main cause of most slips and trips is actually an external hazard. This could be:
- wet or slippery floors from a spill or polish,
- bad weather making outside surfaces slippery (especially rain, snow, and ice),
- changes in level or elevation such as curbs, steps, stairs or ramps,
- physical obstacles such as a cluttered hallway,
- insufficient or inadequate lighting making it difficult to see the hazards.
As you might be able to guess, with slippery surfaces and low visibility being the two main risk factors for potential injury, most slips and trips tend to occur on stairs, in the kitchens or canteens, and outside in the playground.
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4 ways to prevent slips and trips in schools
Every school premises is different so you will have your own specific risks and hazards to address. The process of reducing these risks, however, is the same: perform a thorough risk assessment on your high traffic areas and install reliable anti-slip solutions.
Here are our top 4 anti-slip solutions that you can implement:
- Anti-slip tape – (ideal for uneven surfaces and stairs) a short term solution for low foot traffic areas. Always combine with secure handrails and guardrails.
- Fibreglass anti-slip – (ideal for stairs, play areas, and any surface prone to becoming slippery) an extremely durable and long term solution depending on foot traffic. Sheets, panels, and stair treads and nosings are ideal for high traffic areas. Always combine with secure handrails and guardrails.
- Anti-slip liquids – (ideal for kitchens, canteens, and tiled floors) a medium to long term solution depending on foot traffic.
- Entrance matting – (ideal for protection against outside elements) fitted or loose laid matting prevents surfaces becoming slippery.
What’s even more beneficial about these anti-slip measures, as well as reducing the risks of injury, is that they also ensure that your school is compliant to DDA requirements. When it comes to changes in level, such as at the top and bottom of landings, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 states that you must have a hazard warning that signals this change of elevation in advance.
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Protect your school against slips and trips
Slips and trips can lead to serious head or back injuries or even broken bones, so protect the people in your establishment and your school against the consequences of such an injury.
Slips and trips can be minimised by implementing anti-slip measures, all you have to do is identify your hazards and high-risk areas and invest in the necessary solutions to make health and safety your number one priority.
We can help you make your school safe
At Applied Products, we are committed to helping schools minimise their risk, offering durable and cost-effective solutions to help build safe environments for staff and students alike.
If you would like to increase your safety and security whilst reducing your costs, get in touch with us today.
Applied Products – [email protected] / 01792 895730
