Slips and trips: five things every scaffolding contractor should know

Slips and trips can look like everyday hazards but they are now the leading cause of reportable injuries among NASC contractor members.

Here are the five key points from our safety guidance SG31: Management of Slips & Trips, and how to put them into practice on site.

1. Now the leading cause of reportable injuries
Slips and trips have long been one of the top three causes of RIDDOR injuries in NASC Safety Reports, along with manual handling and falls from height. In the latest report they moved to the top. There were 25 incidents in 2025, up from 21 the year before. Manual handling and falls from height both fell over the same period. Our members’ overall safety record keeps improving, so the rise in slips and trips is a clear sign of where attention is needed.

2. The consequences can be life-changing
Of the 82 RIDDOR accidents members reported in 2025, 25 were slips and trips. That’s nearly a third. A fall on the same level can cause fractures, head injuries and long-term damage, and on a scaffold or busy site the consequences can be even worse. The risk should never be underestimated.

3. The cost goes far beyond insurance
A slip or trip accident costs much more than the insurance claim. It hits productivity, morale and training budgets when a replacement has to be found and brought up to speed. Above all, the injured person suffers pain and lost time.

4. Responsibility stays with the contractor
Customers’ poorly controlled ground conditions can cause problems on site. It is still the scaffolding contractor’s responsibility to keep its operatives, and anyone else affected by the work, safe. That’s why the basics matter so much:

• robust planning before work starts
• thorough risk assessments that cover ground conditions and access
• clear setting-to-work procedures
• effective supervision throughout the job

5. Everyone is at risk, and everyone can help
NASC data shows that slips and trips affect all CISRS card holders and every age group equally. Experience is no protection. Every worker can help prevent them by:

• keeping housekeeping standards high
• reporting hazards straight away
• keeping access routes clear
• following site controls and procedures

About SG31: Management of Slips & Trips
SG31 is a six-page guidance note for scaffolding contractors, site managers, supervisors and operatives. It gives practical advice on identifying, assessing and controlling slip and trip hazards on scaffolding sites, including:

• housekeeping
• surface conditions
• walkways and access routes
• materials storage
• other factors that contribute to slips and trips

It aims to reduce injuries, strengthen site safety culture and support industry best practice. A companion SG31 poster is also available for site cabins and welfare areas.

SG31 is free to download for NASC members and available to purchase for non-members. Visit: https://nasc.org.uk/product/sg31-20.html