Any Safety Issues in Your Business Communal Areas?
This post is part of the “Focus on Health and Safety Audit Questions” series. A series which focuses on questions asked by our health and safety consultants when conducting a health and safety audit.
Tests
2. Check toilets are clean, fully equipped and operational.
Test 1
Check guest areas are in good condition, not obstructed and are free from slip and tripping hazards. Also check spillage procedure in place.
Reason for This Test
All guest areas must be free from tripping hazards plus general surroundings safe.
Possible Answers
Red: Area inspected and some major hazards identified – no spillage procedure in place
Amber: Area inspected and some minor issues identified
Green: Area inspected and free from hazards and good spillage procedures in place
Common Issues
- Raised lips on walkways
- Untidy areas
- Cabling
- Poor condition of flooring
- Carpeting and floor mats in poor condition and present a hazard
Fail Rate
26% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.
Test 2
Check toilets are clean, fully equipped and operational.
Reason for This Test
Conditions within public toilets satisfactory e.g. signage adequate, hygiene satisfactory, cubicles operational etc.
Possible Answers
Red: Area Inspected and some major hygiene issues identified
Amber: Area inspected and some minor issues identified
Green: Area inspected and free from hazards
Common Issues
- No cleaning contract in place
- No cleaners or cleaning schedule in place
- No hot water present
Fail Rate
26% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.
Test 3
Building structure is in good repair – general check for any obvious defects (e.g. broken windows, broken/leaking gutters).
Reason for This Test
Although not structural engineers some defects will be obvious.
Possible Answers
Red: Defects obvious and not being dealt with
Amber: Defects obvious but being dealt with
Green: No obvious defects
Common Issues
- Furnishings in poor state of repair
Fail Rate
14% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.
Test 4
All entrance/exit doors are working properly (including automatic doors) on all access/egress to/from the premises and that where provided entrance matting is in good repair.
Reason for This Test
Necessary to prevent trapping and slips
Possible Answers
Red: Evidence that doors are not working properly and there is a risk of serious injury, or some significant repairs required to entrance matting
Amber: Evidence of doors not working but no risk of serious injury and engineer called out or minor repairs required to entrance matting
Green: Doors working effectively with no risk of injury and entrance matting in good repair
Common Issues
- Doors needing repair e.g. sticking, poor condition, problems closing
- No arrangements in place for door repair
Fail Rate
4% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.
This post is part of the “Focus on Health and Safety Audit Questions” series. A series which focuses on questions asked by our health and safety consultants when conducting a health and safety audit.
About Slips, Trips and Falls at Work
Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the main cause of injuries at work are due to slips and trips and account for over a third of all major work injuries.
Slips, trips and falls cost employers over £512m a year in lost production and other costs. They account for over half of all reported injuries to members of the public.
All employees, visitors, members of the public and contractors who are in the workplace are at risk. Insurances for the workplace are only able to cover a part of the costs, so costs to employers of legal actions resulting from fall injuries can be considerable.
Main causes of slips, trips and falls
- uneven floor surfaces
- unsuitable floor coverings
- wet floors
- changes in levels
- trailing cables
- poor lighting
- poor housekeeping
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