When you’re going about your everyday business, you rarely expect to end up on the floor after tripping over a hazard on the ground! But it does happen. For this article, I’m going to quickly discuss claims for compensation arising from tripping over an object on the ground.
If you go to a shop or a restaurant, or a pub or a club, or any place where you have free public access, there is somebody who is responsible for that premises. That person or company has a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act to make sure that the premises they are in charge or of safe for the public to use. This means that floors should be clear of any hazards.
Those in charge of a premises should have systems of inspection and maintenance to make sure that the floors are free from any objects that could pose a tripping hazard. Obviously in certain places like busy supermarkets, many an item of stock ends up on the ground after being knocked off by kids or falling out of a basket. So the purpose of having systems of inspection in place is for staff to clear away any potential hazards.
The floor itself is not a storage place. There should not be boxes stacked in dangerous places on the ground, or products on the floor, or anything that someone could basically trip over. Common examples are in shops when staff may leave a box or two on the floor whilst stacking a shelf. This is dangerous, and shouldn’t be done. Staff should be trained in making sure they do not create a hazard whilst working.
A classic example is of the workman leaving his toolbox on the ground whilst working. Yes, this essential piece of kit needs to be close by, but it should not be in a position where someone could end up tripping over it! If someone does trip over it, they, or the company they work for, are negligent.
People need to make sure that hazards are not created or allowed to be left. If you end up tripping over because someone has left something in a dangerous position, you may have a claim for compensation.
