Key points to cover
- Keep walkways, access routes, and working areas clear of materials, cables, and waste at all times
- Clean up spills immediately — water, oil, mud, and wet cement are all slip hazards
- Ensure adequate lighting on all access routes, stairways, and work areas
- Wear footwear with good grip and ankle support appropriate for the conditions
- Report and fix uneven surfaces, potholes, missing covers, and damaged floor surfaces
- Use cable covers or route cables overhead to eliminate trailing-cable trip hazards
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Clean up spills of water, oil, mud, and wet cement immediately
- Use cable covers or overhead routing for all trailing cables
- Report potholes, uneven surfaces, and missing drain covers
- Make sure adequate temporary lighting is in place on all access routes
- Store materials neatly and off the floor where possible
Don't
- Never leave tools, materials, or waste in walkways or access routes
- Never walk across areas with known slip or trip hazards without reporting them
- Never run on site — slow down on wet, muddy, or uneven ground
- Never block fire exits or emergency escape routes with materials
- Never ignore worn or loose boot soles — replace your footwear when grip deteriorates
Questions to check understanding
Q1: What is the most common cause of non-fatal injury on UK construction sites?
Show the answer
Slips, trips, and falls at the same level. They account for around 30% of all non-fatal injuries reported to HSE under RIDDOR. They are the most common cause of injury across all UK workplaces.
Q2: Name three common trip hazards found on construction sites.
Show the answer
Trailing cables and hoses, uneven ground and potholes, materials and waste left in walkways, missing manhole covers, raised temporary thresholds, and protruding reinforcement bars or formwork fixings.
Q3: What should you do if you spill water or oil on a walkway?
Show the answer
Clean it up immediately. If it cannot be cleaned straight away, place warning signs around the area, report it to the site supervisor, and arrange cleaning as soon as possible. Oil spills may require an absorbent agent.
Q4: Why is good housekeeping the most effective way to prevent slips and trips?
Show the answer
Because the vast majority of slips and trips are caused by poor housekeeping — objects in walkways, spills left uncleaned, waste not removed, and cables not managed. Addressing these basic issues eliminates the hazard at source, which is more effective than relying on workers to avoid hazards.
This is general guidance for UK construction sites. Check it against your own risk assessment, method statement and the site before you deliver it.