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Floors that are in a bad condition and failing to clear up spillages are the most common causes of 'slip and trip' injuries in the workplace.
A former chef who seriously damaged her knee and hip in a fall at work has succeeded in securing compensation for her injuries.
The 62-year-old woman was working at a nursing home in Dorset when she tripped on loose flooring in the kitchen and landed heavily on her left knee, tearing the meniscus. She also damaged her back and exacerbated an existing hip injury.
The potential risk posed by the condition of the floor had been reported to her employer on several occasions before the accident occurred, but nothing had been done to repair the damage.
As a result of the accident, she continued to experience severe knee pain and was unable to put any weight on her leg. Even after extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, the injury didn't heal, and surgery to repair the damage to her knee was only partially successful.
The woman attempted to return to work, but chronic pain and restricted mobility meant that she was forced to retire.
She sought compensation from her employer on the ground that it had failed to take action to prevent the risk posed to employees by the uneven floor surface even though it had been warned on several occasions that there was a problem. Her claim was successful and she received £16,250 in compensation.