The only way that the situation will improve is if the issue is driven by insurers. If persistent offenders are punished by rising premiums for Public Liabilities Insurance - or withdrawal of cover, then they will consider acting.

In our experience - many larger companies (supermarkets in particular) are citing the 'reasonably practicable' defence for not treating floors, as it would cost too much and take too long. They just cough up the slip claim costs

Floor tester - I can see by your forum name you have a vested interest in testing floor - in my experience, trust me I have lot in this area (not food retail).

Your are a tad off the mark with a couple of points - most supermarkets and retailers in general with take a big excess on PL and in the vast majority of claims they will be self-insured. Therefore, with such an arrangements cover is never going to be withdrawn.

Getting back to defensibility - whist I fully appreciate the need for a service such as testing floors it not on my list of priorities when defending a slipping claim especially if the said floor as been laid by the current occupiers who has all relevant documentation to satisfy the coverings meet the required standards. An inherited floor maybe and the will be rare!

In a retail environment its foreseeable that your will have a transient hazards due to the nature of your activities - if you have systems in place to 1) identify the risk 2) train staff how to prevent and mange the risk 3) have documented inspections regimes in place 4) react to identified issues - if you can demonstrate and prove these arrangements, 1 to 4, are in place and functional - you are in a reasonable position to defend any claims.

Now to the very important bit - the vast majority of slipping accidents are as a result of poor housekeeping standards - this is where the focus is required - prevention is the key, education and more education of the problem. Can be achieved again with points 1 to 4.

Not checked the numbers specifically for MIs but for all reported to HSE reportables...

07/08 26,461
08/09 24,021
09/10 23,343
10/11 20,915
11/12 21,128

Overall probably a statistically significant downwards trend though may well be as much down to recessionary issues as any general improvement in H&S standards.