Almost 70 people suffered a major slip, trip or fall with more than half taking time off work.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is calling on companies to take the problem seriously.

HSE principal inspector Russell Adfield said: "What these figures don't reflect is the extent to which these injuries affect individual workers and their families.

"Slips, trips and falls can be viewed as being minor, funny accidents but the effects are not.

"It can lead to major injuries, and a lifetime of disability or time off work and in worst cases fatalities."

The HSE's campaign Shattered Lives will encourage people to change their attitudes.

It urges those who spot a hazard, to take action immediately and not assume somebody else will sort it out.

In the Horsham district 56 people suffered a slip or trip and 13 people had a fall.

In total 39 of these had to take more than three days off work.

The HSE said the total cost to the area's economy was £1,369,500.

In West Sussex almost 500 people injured themselves at work last year, racking up a cost of about £6.8m.

Mr Adfield continued: "Slips, trips and falls also shatter businesses through costs such as employee absence, sick pay and reduced productivity.

"Irrespective of the size of the business and the job that you do, it could happen to you."

A Horsham District Council spokesperson added: "Although slips and trips in local authority enforced sectors are high, the injuries are often minor.

"The number of reportable accidents for falls from height received by Horsham District Council last year was relatively low."

The highest risk industries for slips, trips and falls were construction, building and plant maintenance, as well as food manufacturing and retail.

Business Link Sussex advisor John Grange explained if a business employs five or more people it must have a written health and safety policy in place.

He urged people to appoint and train one person within the organisation to oversee all health and safety issues.

Mr Grange added: "People are the best asset a business has and protecting the welfare of employees is a major priority for all businesses.

"Small business owners may be daunted by the amount of health and safety legislation they need to comply with but there is plenty of help and guidance available to offer peace of mind.

"The Business Link website has a section dedicated to health and safety issues where businesses can find out which regulations they need to comply with specific to their type of business and check how well they are currently performing on safety issues – visit www.businesslink.gov.uk."

The Shattered Lives campaign will offer support and guidance to employers and employees in high risk industries.

The HSE enforces health and safety regulations in the UK.

For more information visit www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/index.htm or call InfoLine on 0845 3450055.