It's hard to comment without knowing your layout but a few thoughts Get the sandwich van to park somewhere else? Where do your office staff park their cars and would this be a suitable alternative location? Is the main yard (presumably with other vehicles moving?) really the best place anyway? Clean the walkway in the yard so it's not slippery? What is making it slippery anyway (other than water!)?

Thanks, Heather & Cuttle, where the van parks is in the main yard, as for PPE we have signage in place for all visitors past a certain area. The walkway is slightly sloped and on a corner, the staff going to the sandwich van have to venture off the walkway, I don't think this incident would have happened if the correct footwear was worn, but, do I upset everyone, it is only a small company.

You say that the working areas is “wet and slippery” and that the PPE requirements in that area are hi-viz and safety boots as a minimum. You go on to say that one of your employees slipped over in this area and was not wearing the safety footwear as required. This would indicate that although you have put controls in place they are not being complied with. Reading between the lines this also indicates this it is custom and practice. You do not want to alienate the workforce but you do need to address the issue as there is likely to be a recurrence of either persons entering the area without the PPE required or, more seriously, another slip/fall and consequential injury. If there is an injury it may become reportable and ultimately there may be a claim on the horizon resulting in you being in a tricky position of having to defend the potentially indefensible. What is the answer? As has been suggested already,relocating the sandwich van is the first thing to consider, followed by a bit of education and gentle nudging to get people on board.

Like others taking that this walkway is outside then it is always best to ascertain why the floor is slippery. There are altenatives as the butty ven to give a list of what is on the van so that it can be ordered the day before and ask him to deliver it to the main entrance were it can be collected or as stated look at the best place for parking, can he stop outside the main entrance and then move to the other area once the office staff have used it. Were I work there is no just walking in or out so we had the butty van give us a menu of items carried and we order the day before also saves on congestion at the van.

If the normal PPE requirement has been set out then it's a failure to comply with the requirements especially if it's a case of 'past this point this is what you must wear'. Unfortunately it's likely this will be one of those instances where you may be seen as the office kill joy but the evidence speaks for itself and that's what you need to monopolise on. Someone's had an accident because their footwear was inappropriate for the location. I'd agree with everyone's thoughts that the snack van should be moved, not just because it'll prevent others having the same accident when they buy their lunch but also because of the imported risk of the driver having a similar accident and the inevitable letter from their solicitor. Especially so if the driver hasn't had a site induction detasiling the minimum PPE requirement. It's also probably worth highlighting to the GM that if a similar accident did occur the company wouldn't have a leg to stand on (pardon the rather hamfisted pun - I'll get my coat...).

My first posting and what a great response, thank you everyone I am glad I became a member. Now time to get busy and correct so many wrongs, this little incident just highlights, within the business, that such a small issues can really turn quiet quickly and it is nice to have other members responses back up what you try to achieve.

Remove the hazard at source, if brick were falling from a scaffold you`d stop the bricks falling not issue hard hats to the people underneath

I'm not sure if this has already been said, I didn't read all of the replies, have you considered rubber anti slip mats? We use them offshore for personnel entering and exiting the fast rescue craft, they area is always wet and slippy but the mats seem to work well.