Mr Spalding, a plumber employed by the University of East Anglia and member of the Unite general union was asked to fix a leaking radiator in the university library. He had to lie under a desk to access the radiator and since he had not been provided with any waterproof protective clothing or anti-slip mat, he lay on a couple of plastic bin bags to avoid the sodden area surrounding the radiator. As he stood up after finishing the repair, he slipped on the bin bags and fell, striking his face on the nearby desk and suffering serious facial injuries.