Get a Grip: The Investigation of Pedestrian Slips & Falls - Hawkins Forensic Investigation

Event Overview

Pedestrian falls are the single most common cause of major injuries in the workplace, and are a leading cause of injuries across a wide range of non-workplace environments. As a result, claims are very common, and many are considerable, given the severity of the injuries that can result. Personal Injury Expert Dr Paul Lemon, will look at the methods that should be used to investigate slipping incidents, and will consider the many pitfalls that can lead to incomplete or inaccurate slipping incident investigations.

Learning Objectives :

• Identify how pedestrian falls can result in severe injuries and as a result can lead to complex claims
• Understand the methods used to investigate slipping incidents
• Understand the pitfalls that can lead to incomplete slipping incident investigations

Dr Paul Lemon – Principal Associate

Paul is a full-time specialist in the niche area of slips, trips and stair fall incident investigation, and leads Hawkins’ work in this area. He is a sought-after Expert Witness in this field, regularly preparing reports and giving evidence in Court. He was part of the small HSE team that developed HSE’s early understanding of the causes of pedestrian slips, trips and stair falls. Paul’s work at HSE’s Laboratories (HSL) involved leading and coordinating research in these subject areas, and led to him serving as HSE’s principal Expert Witness for cases involving pedestrian accidents, presenting evidence to Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Courts and at Coroner’s Inquests.

On becoming HSL’s Research Technical Leader for slips, trips and stair falls, Paul continued to lead HSL’s research into these subjects, including their input into a large pan-European research project and managing the two largest research projects into slips and falls ever undertaken by HSE. He maintained responsibility for the authorisation of HSL’s slip, trip and stair fall forensic reports and represented HSE on several British Standards Committees, taking part in the production of numerous HSE Guidance documents and National Standards (such as BS7976-2 and BS5395-1) concerning slips, trips and stair falls.

He has developed a substantial list of publications in this subject area, is a long-standing, active Member of the UK Slip Resistance Group (UKSRG) and was the Editor of Issue 5 of the UKSRG Guidelines. He is a Chartered Scientist, a Chartered Physicist and a Fellow of the Institute of Science & Technology.

Paul joined Hawkins in 2009, and is a Principal Associate and Regional Manager of our Leeds Office.

To view our image and video capture consent statement, please click here.