A slips and trips risk assessment helps you identify where people could slip or trip, decide who may be harmed, check what controls you already have, and record what further action is needed. In the UK, the HSE's general risk assessment approach includes recording who might be harmed, existing controls, further actions, who will do them, and by when. (HSE)
This page gives you a copy/paste template and a practical checklist you can use for entrances, steps, ramps and walkways. If your assessment identifies surfaces that need improved grip or clearer segregation, you can price remediation using the quote template.
Copy/paste slips and trips risk assessment template
Site / area:
Assessor:
Date:
Review date:
Areas covered: (e.g., main entrance, external steps, ramp, corridor, walkway)
1) Hazard identification (what could cause slips or trips?)
List hazards found in the area (examples below—delete what doesn't apply):
- Wet floors / rainwater tracked in
- Spillages (food/drink/cleaning fluids)
- Algae/moss/leaf debris outdoors
- Mud/grit tracked in
- Uneven surfaces / broken paving
- Loose mats / curled edges
- Trailing cables
- Poor lighting / glare
- Poor housekeeping / obstacles
- Steps: worn edges, poor edge definition, inconsistent risers
- Ramps: slippery surface, poor drainage, steep gradient
- Inadequate cleaning method/frequency for the environment
2) Who might be harmed and how?
Use groups relevant to your site:
- Staff
- Visitors / public
- Children / pupils
- Contractors / delivery personnel
- People with reduced mobility
- Older people
Describe harm: slips, trips, falls, fractures, head injuries, sprains.
3) What are you already doing to control the risks?
Examples (choose what's true):
- Cleaning regime in place (frequency + method)
- Wet floor signage and barriers used when needed
- Entrance matting and water management
- Good lighting and maintenance checks
- Housekeeping checks (remove obstacles)
- Routine inspections and defect reporting system
- Gritting plan in icy conditions
- Handrails present on steps where appropriate
- Defined pedestrian routes / segregation
4) What further action is needed?
Be specific and zone-based:
- Improve drainage / fix ponding
- Adjust cleaning method/frequency for contamination level
- Replace/secure mats and edges
- Repair uneven paving / defective steps
- Improve lighting
- Add/remove trip hazards (cables/obstacles)
- Improve grip on high-risk zones (steps, ramps, entrances, shaded walkways)
- Add clearer route definition / signage
- Add inspection frequency (daily/weekly/monthly) for high-risk zones
5) Who will do it and by when?
Action owner:
Target completion date:
Interim controls until completed:
6) Record and review
Record significant findings and review after:
- an incident/near miss
- changes to the environment (weather, resurfacing, building works)
- changes to cleaning/footfall
- a scheduled review date (HSE)
Slips and trips hazard checklist (fast walk-through)
Entrances and thresholds
- Water tracked in? Puddling just outside doors?
- Adequate matting and maintenance?
- Grit/mud build-up in wet weather?
- Queue bottlenecks where people pivot?
Related remedial options:
Steps and landings
- Worn step edges?
- Poor edge definition?
- Slippery contaminants present?
- Handrails present and secure?
- Lighting adequate on approach and landing?
Related remedial options:
Ramps and sloped routes
- Water films persist?
- Algae in shade?
- Steepest section clearly identified?
- Turning points and landings high wear?
- Step-free access must remain open (phasing needed)?
Related remedial options:
Walkways and outdoor paths
- Shaded damp zones?
- Leaf debris and algae?
- Uneven paving or edges?
- Gritting plan in winter?
- Cleaning access constraints?
Related remedial options:
When to use a more detailed slips assessment tool
If slip resistance of flooring/surfaces is a specific issue, HSE provides the Slips Assessment Tool (SAT) as a resource (note: it's free but no longer supported by HSE technology). (HSE)
How to turn your risk assessment into a quote-ready scope
If your "further action" includes improving grip on steps, ramps, entrances or walkways, you'll get faster, more comparable quotes if you provide:
- marked-up photos showing the exact zones
- surface type and condition notes
- access windows (day/night/weekend/holiday)
- whether routes must remain open (phasing)
- any safeguarding/public access controls