£4m slip accident insurance claim for British Airways. How can you avoid this?

Ever thought a slip could cost millions?

Andreas Wuchner, a passenger who suffered a traumatic brain injury after slipping in a puddle of Baileys while heading for a flight, could receive up to £4m in compensation from British Airways, a judge decided this week.

The Incident

After passing through security, Wuchner and his companion were the last passengers to reach the boarding gate for their new flight. Wuchner, who managed an office supplies company, made a quick stop at Starbucks to buy two espressos and two macchiatos.

Balancing the four coffees on a tray and hurrying to the gate just 15 minutes before departure, Wuchner slipped on a puddle of Baileys on the airport floor, as revealed during the hearing at Central London County Court.

When questioned about his decision to stop for coffees so close to departure time, Wuchner, who had been in London for an event at Wembley Stadium, explained: "I really enjoy a proper coffee from a coffee machine, rather than the typical airport coffee, which is why I went to Starbucks.

"I moved as quickly as possible to the boarding gate, considering I had four coffees in my hand. I wasn't running, but I was walking swiftly, keeping in mind the safety of my coffee cups."

Wuchner described how he flew two meters into the air after slipping on the alcohol, resulting in dropped coffees and a head injury. Since the incident, he has experienced recurrent headaches lasting up to two weeks, the court heard.

The Judge's Decision

Judge Saunders found British Airways liable for the accident, ruling that Wuchner could receive 80% of his £5 million claim once assessed, as he was found partially responsible due to "contributory negligence."

The judge concluded that the accident might have been avoided if BA staff had either covered the spillage or warned passengers about it.

Judge Saunders stated, "It seems inevitable that, through his delay and attempt to obtain last-minute coffees, the claimant had placed himself under greater pressure to board the flight in time, having missed his earlier flight and been delayed in security.

"It is a likely scenario that he was anxious to catch his flight, and that the pressure he had imposed upon himself had made that pressure even greater. That, in my view, contributed to the accident."

BA’s barrister, Tom Bird, argued that Wuchner’s rushing to the boarding gate with four coffees caused the incident and contended that BA should be exonerated from liability.

Avoid This Happening To You: Take Action Now

Don't wait for an incident to implement these changes. Assess your current safety protocols, invest in necessary improvements, and ensure ongoing training and awareness. A proactive approach to safety is not just about compliance; it's about caring for your people and protecting your business. Slips don't sound so "simple" when they are in the same sentence as "£4m insurance claim" or "life-altering injuries"...

Key Actions for Health and Safety Managers:

1) Use our free Slip Prevention Scorecard to self-assess your current risk of slips: in just 3.5 minutes, answer questions to get an overall score plus a score for each of the 6x casues of slips (CHIMES). Click below:

2) Take action on CHIMES, using science, to have certainty about your risk control: "signage alone is not an adequate control" said Cornwall Council after a fatal slip in a supermarket in 2015.

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