Reasonable Foreseeability

 

In health and safety, we often focus on the big-ticket risks – heavy machinery, hazardous and substances, working at height. These are the obvious dangers, and rightly so, they demand our attention. 

 

But what about the smaller, everyday issues? Loose cables across a walkway. A missing bolt on a handrail. An unreported near miss. These “little things” can easily be overlooked, but the law – and good practice – requires us to consider what is reasonably foreseeable. 

 

 

Put simply, it’s about asking: Could a sensible person anticipate that harm might arise from this situation? 

 

It doesn’t mean predicting every unlikely event. It does mean looking at common hazards, past incidents, and industry knowledge to identify risks that could realistically cause injury. 

 

If a risk is reasonably foreseeable, then the duty exists to manage it. That’s why “minor” oversights can become major liabilities – and more importantly, cause preventable harm. 

 

 

It’s human nature to become desensitised to risks we see every day. A trailing cable might seem harmless because “no one’s ever tripped over it.” A faulty step may be ignored because “we’ve always managed fine.” 

 

But complacency is often what allows foreseeable accidents to happen. In fact, many serious incidents have their roots in small, ignored hazards. 

 

 

One of my clients, a medium-sized office, had a recurring issue with boxes being stored in a corridor. It was seen as a minor inconvenience – until we raised it as a foreseeable trip and fire evacuation risk. The company acted quickly, reorganising storage and training staff to report blockages. 

 

A few months later, a fire alarm led to a full evacuation. Thanks to the clear corridors, over 70 staff exited smoothly and safely. The Health & Safety Manager later told me, “We might never have realised the importance of those boxes until it was too late. Fixing it seemed small at the time, but it made all the difference.” 

 

Reasonable foreseeability isn’t just a legal phrase – it’s a mindset. By tackling the “little things” before they escalate, you protect people, demonstrate due diligence, and create a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility. 

 

So, take a look around your workplace today. What “small” risks are you walking past? 

 

 

Here are some simple steps to spot and manage the “little things” before they become problems: 

 

1. Walk the workplace regularly – Look for loose cables, spills, clutter, or damaged equipment. 

2. Ask staff for observations – People on the ground often see risks management misses. 

3. Review past incidents – Even minor near misses can reveal foreseeable hazards. 

4. Consider the “what if” scenarios – If a small hazard is ignored, what could realistically happen? 

5. Document and act – Logging hazards and implementing quick fixes demonstrates due diligence. 

6. Train and remind – Encourage everyone to report small risks; reinforce that no issue is too minor. 

 

Feel free to get in touch with any questions, we are here to help you! Leanne on 07709 675925, Jane on 07743 198414 or Tracey on 07872 589286. Alternatively, you can drop us a message at hello@influentialmg.com.