Posted By stephen d clarke Hi, Do you mean a slip probem? Solutions to slips/trips look at: cleaning, lighting, obstructions, footware and flooring. Steve

Posted By David Bannister By coincidence I was at a client's site yesterday where there is an ongoing claim where an employee alleges a trip over a flooring fault and consequent damages for pain & suffering and lost wages etc. It is said to have taken place at time when nobody was around. It was reported internally and a RIDDOR report was submitted after 3 days absence. There was an unevenness in the flooring in the area stated. No witnesses. There is great scepticism surrounding the whole issue. The individual has previously made a successful claim in dubious circumstances. The possibility of a defence is slim for other reasons too and the employer is "not best pleased" John, take whatever lessons you can from this.

Posted By Ron Hunter Such a hazard should have been picked up during a routine safety inspection - not during a formal audit. Local problem = local solution. You say this is in an engineering department- can't they fix it then?

Posted By Andrew Meiklejohn John. I feel you are between a rock and a hard place on this one. You are aware of the trip hazard and a claim has already been successful. Some employees will exploit this. This is where sensible risk assessment gets knocked on the head because when it comes to claims it would appear that the employee has no obligation to look where they are going. Andrew

Posted By Safe System how much does a roll of yellow & black hazard tape cost to put on the area?? . .. just put some of that down and bring it to his attention - in writing... its reasonable AND practicable!

Posted By john thos 147 In response to A Campbell and R Hunter, we undertake audits every 2 weeks. This trip hazard was highlighted approximately 2 years ago.After it was ignored for a month the employee had the accident . Then the flooring was repaired/replaced. Since then it has not been reported/recoreded or noticed . In the audit that i undertook today the same employee has advised again of the flooring I know that the maintenace manager will not repair the flooring (He is one stubborn GET) Cant remember if i said but the employee has put a claim in for the last accident. My view is now that he knows the fault is recorded within the Audit therefore i believe he could have another accident (when no one can see him) which will mean thst he can go on the sick for a few weeks put another claim in and use his most recent accident to reinforce his original claim . As to black and yeelow tape . The flooring is within his working area cannot be sealed off as process will have to stop. signs up to now seem an OK idea but would that be enough to defend a claim

Posted By john thos 147 i understand that the area as decribed is a trip hazard . tape will not work as it is a work area and the employee would be restricted further by the tape. My concern is what do you do when you report something and people are resistant to following your advice. I have come up with a solution which is to bolt all of the flooring together. Quite a simple solution.Which i have now got buy in for. But i would still like peoples views on what to do next when in some respects you may be being undermined and by doing so putting people at risk. I am also HR adviser so am completely aware of all disciplinary processes.