Firms ‘could be liable for compensation claims over falls on ice’

Posted 07/01/2010

Companies should heed their legal responsibility to keep their premises safe in icy weather if they wish to avoid compensation claims.

This is the advice of Alastair Kight, managing director of winter maintenance expert GRITIT, who states that gritting paths and car parks should be considered an essential step during the current cold spell.

He told Safety & Health Practitioner: “The Occupiers’ Liability Act states that property owners have a duty of care to maintain safe access for visitors to premises.”

Businesses which fail to do so could find themselves subject to legal action from employees making claims for personal injury or loss of earnings.

The expert therefore emphasised the importance of risk assessment and forward planning in order to keep workplaces as safe as possible.

Nearly 11,000 workers suffered an occupational personal injury due to a slip or trip last year, according to Health and Safety Executive statistics.