Whilst there were no LTIs last week, at the end of the week there was a reported incident when a driver tripped and injured his lower back.  It seems the driver parked his car first thing in the morning, before walking to the site dispatch office to get the keys for his lorry, when he apparently tripped on a kerb and injured his lower back in the resulting fall.  A team has been established to investigate the incident and will consider a number of factors including the suitability of the walkway, the lighting in the area and the injured person’s footwear.

If this incident is confirmed as a TRI it will be the fourth we have suffered in just over a month as a result of slips/trips/falls.  In addition, it should be noted that two thirds of our slip/trip/fall incidents in the last 12 months have involved drivers.

It is essential we take action to stop this trend. Managers and Supervisors are encouraged to work with their teams to: 

• Review pedestrian routes and ensure walkways are in a suitable condition and well lit. 

• Pay particular attention to steps/stairways, changes in direction and areas where it is necessary to walk from one surface to another, e.g. concrete to steel, or where it is necessary to step up or down kerbs. 

• Be reminded of the need to keep walkways clear and ‘Get a Grip’ on steps and stairways. 

• Report any slip/trip/fall hazards via the Near Miss/Hazard Alert system.