What if I was running or distracted when I slipped?

Contributory negligence may reduce your award (often 10–25%) but does not defeat the claim. The employer's duty to keep the floor reasonably safe is not extinguished by an employee's momentary inattention.

There was a 'wet floor' sign — can I still claim?

Sometimes. A sign alone is not enough. The employer must also have a system to clean spills promptly, restrict access where reasonably practicable, and choose flooring with adequate slip resistance.

I tripped on a 1 cm raised flagstone — is that claimable?

Generally not on a public highway (the courts treat lips below 25 mm as de minimis), but in a workplace under the Workplace Regulations 1992 the duty is higher: floors must be 'suitable' and free from anything that may cause a person to slip, trip or fall.

Slip, trip and fall claims at work.

A workplace accident evidence flatlay — hard hat, notebook and high-visibility vest — Workplace accident evidence kit

The scale of the problem

Slips, trips and falls on the same level are consistently the single largest category of non-fatal injury reported to the Health and Safety Executive each year — typically around 30% of all RIDDOR-reportable injuries to UK employees, alongside a meaningful share of fatal injuries when falls are from height. For the most recent published totals see the HSE statistics page linked in Sources below.

The four most common causes

Wet, oily or contaminated floors — spills, leaks, cleaning, kitchenette and washroom transitions.
Uneven, damaged or poorly designed flooring — kerbs, lifted vinyl, broken tiles, sudden changes in level without a contrast strip.
Trip hazards — trailing cables, hoses, deliveries left in walkways, low pallet trucks, dropped pallet wrap.
Inadequate lighting — failed bulbs in stairwells, glare on shiny floors, poor lighting on outside steps.

Regulation 12 — the cornerstone

Regulation 12 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 is the single most-cited rule in UK workplace slip claims. It requires every floor in a workplace to be:

Suitable for the purpose for which it is used (slip resistance, drainage).
Sound in construction and free from holes, slopes or unevenness likely to cause injury.
Kept free from obstructions and from any article or substance which may cause a person to slip, trip or fall.
Where reasonably practicable, fitted with handrails on staircases used by pedestrians.

Linked obligations under the Workplace Regulations cover lighting (Reg 8), traffic routes (Reg 17), and the Construction Regulations 2015 carry an equivalent set of duties for building sites.

Realistic payout ranges

Injury	General-damages range
Minor sprained wrist or ankle — full recovery	up to £4,310
Wrist fracture — recovery within 12 months	£3,950 – £6,910
Wrist fracture — ongoing stiffness	£10,420 – £20,900
Significant ankle injury — ongoing limp	£14,650 – £29,180
Hip fracture — older claimant, partial recovery	£24,950 – £33,470
Severe back from a fall	£38,780 – £85,470
Head injury — moderate	£15,320 – £43,060
Head injury — severe with cognitive impact	£52,550 – £282,010

Why slip claims sometimes fail

They fail when the claimant cannot prove either (a) what was on the floor, or (b) how long it had been there. The court doesn't expect perfection — it expects a reasonable cleaning system. If a litre of milk had spilled in a supermarket aisle two minutes before you slipped, and the employer had a documented 30-minute inspection cycle, the claim will fail. If the same spill had been there three hours, the claim will succeed. Photographs and CCTV preservation are critical.

Evidence that wins slip and trip claims

Photographs of the hazard before it's cleaned up, with date and location.
The accident-book entry — and any earlier entries about the same hazard.
The cleaning rota and inspection sheet for that area.
A written request to preserve CCTV (most systems overwrite within 14–30 days).
Witness contact details — personal numbers, not just work emails.
Footwear photographs (in slip cases the defendant will challenge your shoes).

What to do if you've slipped or tripped at work

Photograph the cause before it's cleaned up.
Make sure the accident is logged in the accident book — and ask whether a RIDDOR report is required.
See your GP or A&E — wrist, hip and head injuries can present hours later.
Send an email to the duty manager asking for the cleaning rota and CCTV to be preserved.
Get the personal numbers of any colleagues or members of the public who saw the fall.
Speak to a regulated personal-injury solicitor — initial advice is free.

FAQs

What if I was running or distracted when I slipped?: Contributory negligence may reduce your award (often 10–25%) but does not defeat the claim. The employer's duty to keep the floor reasonably safe is not extinguished by an employee's momentary inattention.
There was a 'wet floor' sign — can I still claim?: Sometimes. A sign alone is not enough. The employer must also have a system to clean spills promptly, restrict access where reasonably practicable, and choose flooring with adequate slip resistance.
I tripped on a 1 cm raised flagstone — is that claimable?: Generally not on a public highway (the courts treat lips below 25 mm as de minimis), but in a workplace under the Workplace Regulations 1992 the duty is higher: floors must be 'suitable' and free from anything that may cause a person to slip, trip or fall.