Employers have been urged to make workplaces safer after research suggested thousands of people suffer serious injuries every year.

The TUC said injuries caused by slipping at work cost the UK economy £1.1bn a year.

But many of these accidents could be avoided by firms if they carried out regular risk assessments.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Too many employers are ducking the issue, leaving their staff vulnerable to a painful fall, often leading to time off work."

A survey by the organisation's health and safety representatives looked at 800 workplaces, and found 15,000 incidents in these places alone.

It said most were likely to be injured by slipping because of obstructions or substances left on floors.

It said 9,000 people suffer broken bones and other serious injuries every year after falling at work.

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