HSE: Spring clean to avoid accidents

HSE: Spring clean to avoid accidents - 29/04/2008

Businesses should conduct a thorough office spring clean to ensure that accidents are avoided, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Figures from the HSE indicate that 50 per cent of all trips and falls are caused by bad housekeeping and has cost the north east of England alone £35 million in 2006-07.

Principal Inspector of the HSE, Chris Gillies, claims that removing small rain water, oil or grease spills is as important as tidying away trailing wires.

He told the Shields Gazette: "Slips, trips and falls can be viewed as being minor, funny accidents, but the effects are not.

"It can lead to major injuries and disability or time off work and, in worst cases, fatalities."

But while employee vigilance is essential, regular cleaning agencyoffice cleaning is likely to offer a more sturdy defence against office accidents.