Slips & Trips: How to defend slip and trip claims – Strengthening claims defensibility with evidence

Last Updated on October 6, 2025 by admin

Slips, usually caused by wet, polished, or otherwise slippery floors and trips, often due to uneven surfaces, clutter, or poor lighting, are among the most common causes of workplace and public liability claims.

When a slip or trip accident leads to a liability (compensation) claim, the strength of your defence often comes down to the evidence you can provide. To defend a claim, you need to prove you took reasonable steps to prevent the accident, even if one still happened. Keeping thorough records, following safety procedures, and acting quickly after an incident can make the difference between a defensible claim and an expensive payout.

 

Adequacy of precautions

Educational settings, workplaces, and public venues experience high foot traffic, making slips and trips one of the most common causes of civil claims. Courts often look at two things:

 

Were precautions reasonable and in line with regulations?

Measures must meet standards such as the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, which require floors and walkways to be safe. Risk assessments should show how you’ve identified hazards and decided on suitable preventative steps.

 

Were those precautions carried out effectively?

Even if policies exist, poor implementation can undermine a defence. Inadequate cleaning, weak inspection routines, missing signage, or poor contractor checks are common failings that can leave organisations exposed.

 

Cleaning & maintenance records

Courts and insurers often scrutinise cleaning and maintenance logs. Points considered include:

 

• Cleaning frequency, methods used (e.g. mopping, floor polishes) and whether warning signs/barriers were in place.
• Floor, path, and lighting maintenance schedules, including inspections and repairs.
• Records of contractors’ work and evidence of staff training for inspections and cleaning duties.
• Having inspection logs and cleaning records readily available can significantly boost claims defensibility.

 

Risk assessments

A risk assessment is usually the first piece of evidence examined in slip and trip cases. To stand up in court, assessments must:

 

• Be site-specific and up to date.
• Identify who may be at risk and what controls are required.
• Be completed by competent staff and reviewed regularly.
• Be documented, signed off, and stored for future reference.

 

Gaps such as generic assessments, outdated procedures, or failure to consider new hazards often weaken a defence.

 

Inspection & incident reporting

Routine checks of floors, walkways, and outdoor areas are essential. Defensible systems should include:

• Clear inspection schedules aligned with risk assessments.
• Written checklists, signed and dated by staff.
• Training and supervision for those carrying out inspections.
• Accessible records showing how defects were logged, reported, and fixed.

 

When accidents do happen, reporting accuracy is critical. For example, initial records should describe incidents as alleged accidents until investigations confirm the cause. This avoids assumptions that could weaken your defence later.

 

Post-accident documentation

Accident investigations and supporting records play a vital role in defending claims. Evidence may include:

• Accident book entries, first-aid notes, RIDDOR reports, and meeting minutes.
• Photographs, CCTV, footwear details, and witness statements.
• Cleaning logs, inspection records, and maintenance schedules.

 

Prompt reporting to your insurer is also vital. Employers’ and public liability claims valued between £1,000 and £25,000 are processed via the online claims portal, which requires documents to be provided within strict timescales. Missing deadlines can push cases outside the portal, resulting in significantly higher costs.

 

Key takeaway

The strongest defence against slip and trip claims lies in evidence: up-to-date risk assessments, accurate inspection records, documented cleaning and maintenance, and prompt incident reporting. By embedding these practices into everyday operations, you’ll not only reduce accidents but also protect your business against costly liability claims.

 

And as always, if you’ve got questions about your policy or cover, the Boshers team are here to help.

 

Call our expert team on 01237 429 444

 

This guidance is provided for information purposes and is general and educational in nature and does not constitute legal advice. You are free to choose whether or not to use it and it should not be considered a substitute for seeking professional help in specific circumstances. Boshers shall not be liable for any losses, damages, charges or expenses, whether direct, indirect, or consequential and howsoever arising, that you suffer or incur as a result of or in connection with your use or reliance on the information provided in this guidance except for those which cannot be excluded by law. Where this guidance contains links to other sites and resources provided by third parties, these links are provided for your information only.

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