By Stewart Hansen, Founder and Principal Instructor at Vital Signs First. Last updated 8 October 2026.
If someone slips on ice at work, keep them still if they may have hurt their head, neck or back, keep them warm, and call 999 if the injury looks serious. Then record it in your accident book, and check whether it needs reporting to the HSE under RIDDOR. That’s the short answer. The rest of this post covers what your first aider should do in those first few minutes, and what you as an employer should have sorted before the first frost.
Slips, trips and falls are consistently the most common cause of non-fatal injuries to workers in HSE’s figures, and icy mornings make car parks, paths and entrances a lot more dangerous. The workplaces that cope best aren’t the ones with the most expensive gritting contract. They’re the ones where someone knows exactly what to do when a colleague goes down.
What your first aider should do after a slip on ice
First, check the area is safe. If it’s icy where the person fell, it’s icy where you’re standing.
- Don’t move them straight away. Ask where it hurts. If they’ve hit their head, or have pain in the neck or back, tell them to stay still and keep their head and neck as steady as you can.
- Call 999 if it looks serious. That includes a suspected head, neck or back injury, a limb that looks out of shape, heavy bleeding, difficulty breathing, or any loss of consciousness.
- Keep them warm. Lying on cold ground drains body heat quickly. Put a coat or blanket over them and, if you can do it without moving them, something underneath.
- Stay with them and keep talking. Watch for growing drowsiness, confusion, vomiting or a worsening headache, and pass these on to the ambulance crew.
Sprains and suspected fractures
Wrists and ankles take the brunt of most falls on ice. If you suspect a fracture, keep the injured part still and support it in the position you found it. Don’t try to straighten it. For a minor sprain, rest it and use a cold pack wrapped in a cloth, never ice straight on the skin. If they can’t put weight on it, or the pain is severe, they need it checked. The NHS has more on sprains and strains.
Watch for the cold
Someone lying on the ground waiting for an ambulance can get dangerously cold, and so can outdoor staff such as delivery drivers, grounds staff and anyone working on site. Look out for shivering, pale cold skin, tiredness, confusion or slurred speech. Move them somewhere warm if it’s safe to, swap wet clothing for dry layers and wrap them up. A warm drink helps if they’re fully alert. Don’t rub their arms and legs, and don’t use direct heat. The NHS guidance on hypothermia has more detail.
After the fall: recording and reporting
Once the person has been looked after, there’s paperwork, and it matters.
- Record it in your accident book, even if it seems minor. Note the time, the place, what happened, and what first aid was given.
- Check whether it’s reportable under RIDDOR. Most broken bones count (fingers, thumbs and toes are the exceptions), as does any loss of consciousness from a head injury. An injury that keeps a worker off normal duties for more than seven days is also reportable. If a member of the public is hurt on your premises and taken straight to hospital, that can be reportable too. The HSE explains it all on its RIDDOR pages.
- Look at why it happened. Was the area gritted? Was the lighting working? Was it a route people have to use? A fall is often a warning that the next one is coming.
Winter first aid checklist for employers
Employers have a legal duty to provide adequate first aid for their staff, and the HSE’s first aid guidance explains what that means. Before winter, it’s worth checking:
- Do you have enough trained first aiders to cover every shift, including early starts when the ice is worst and holiday cover over Christmas?
- Are their certificates in date? First aid at work certificates last three years.
- Does everyone know who the first aiders are and where the kit is kept?
- Is the first aid kit stocked, with a foil blanket and cold packs in it?
- Is there a gritting plan for car parks, paths, steps and main entrances, with someone responsible for doing it before staff arrive?
- Are the outside areas well lit for dark mornings and evenings?
- Have lone or outdoor workers got a way to call for help?
Slips on ice at work: FAQs
Should you move someone who has fallen on ice?
Not if you suspect a head, neck or back injury. Keep them still, keep them warm and call 999. If there’s no sign of a serious injury, help them up slowly, only when they feel ready, and get them somewhere warm.
Does a slip on ice at work need reporting to the HSE?
It depends on the injury. Most fractures, loss of consciousness from a head injury, and injuries that keep someone off normal work for more than seven days are reportable under RIDDOR. Always record the fall in your accident book either way.
How many first aiders does my workplace need?
There’s no single number. It depends on how many people you employ, what the work involves and the risks on your site. The HSE suggests carrying out a first aid needs assessment, and we’re happy to help you work it out.
Get your first aiders ready for winter
If your first aiders’ certificates are due, or you’ve realised you don’t have enough cover for early shifts, now is the time to sort it rather than in January. At Vital Signs First we deliver Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work courses across Milton Keynes and the surrounding counties, on site at your workplace. If you haven’t got a suitable room, we can find a venue near you. Get in touch and we’ll help you choose the right course.
This article is general guidance and is not a substitute for accredited first aid training or professional medical advice. In an emergency, always call 999.