The winter having finally arrived with a vengeance in many parts of Britain, it is essential that all companies consider the threats posed by weather conditions in outdoor areas on their property. High wind can cause tiles to fly from roofs, while rain and sleet may swiftly turn into hazardous patches of ice if the temperature drops a few more degrees.
Health and safety procedures at work need to be particularly observed in such conditions. Commercial premises such as shops and supermarkets must also take the necessary measures to ensure that their premises are safe for visitors, including making sure that all buildings are in state of good repair, and that outdoor areas are kept free from hazards, mainly ice, snow, broken tiles and other debris blown in by the wind.
Employers and commercial organisations are legally responsible for the maintenance of their premises, and must maintain their property, including buildings, roofs and outdoor surfaces in a state of good repair at all times. In freezing conditions companies are expected to take precipitate action to protect their workers and visitors from the risk of getting injured.
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Employers, owners and occupiers of public premises must be aware of both current and predicted weather conditions, and are legally obliged to take adequate measures to deal with hazards posed by strong winds, ice and snow. This includes having sufficient supplies on grit on hand to deal with ice on company property, and most importantly, supervising properly, to ensure grit or salt is used promptly and effectively as the conditions demand.
We previously handled a case on behalf of a client who slipped in his company car park and broke his ankle, causing months of pain, inconvenience and loss of mobility. We were eventually able to show that he had slipped on ice that had formed from water leaking from a drainage pipe. The pipe itself was cracked, and this had caused the water to flow down from it into a section of the office car park.
In this instance, the employer should have had the pipe fixed previously, as it was reasonably foreseeable, given the sub-zero temperatures and leaking water, that it would cause an accident. A few months later our client received a cheque for £5,500 in personal injury compensation.
If you have been injured on a company’s premises it is important to seek legal advice to determine your rights. Contact our specialist team of solicitors today for a free no obligation consultation.
>> Read More About Claiming Compensation For Slipping On Ice
