How to Prevent a Slip & Fall
Slip-and-fall accidents are among the primary causes of injury for employees at the workplace and for customers at office or retail locations. Employee accidents can be costly, as they may cause an increase in workers' compensation expense. Customer injuries can lead to increases in insurance premiums and liability costs--in addition to negative word-of-mouth. Fortunately, the measures required to prevent this common type of accident are neither complicated nor difficult. Vigilance and consistency are key.
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Things You'll Need
- Floor cleaners and equipment
- Signage
- Vigilant employees
- Quality lighting materials
Instructions
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Choose high-traction flooring. An ounce of prevention...well, you know the adage. If you have the opportunity to lay flooring, choose a smooth, non-slippery surface that offers plenty of traction. Especially if your business involves consumer foot traffic, you can have no control over what the soles of shoes will be like. Installing flooring that will help forestall accidents will help protect you against liability losses.
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Clean flooring regularly. No matter what kind of business you are in, leaving dirt and debris on walking surfaces can be an invitation to injury. Be sure your janitorial or cleaning staff cleans and/or vacuums regularly, to help guard against slip-and-fall grief. Take care also to use slip-resistant waxes and floor cleaners and to guard against residue buildup.
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Mop up spills right away. If an employee or customer does spill any substance, be sure to have it mopped up as soon as possible. If you cannot attend to mopping right away, be sure to post floor signage in the immediate area to adequately warn pedestrians.
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Light walking areas adequately. Pedestrians who cannot see where they are going are more likely to slip and fall. Install quality lighting in areas that attract high foot traffic. Replace light bulbs as soon as they burn out. Taking the trouble to effect these prevention measures can save you money and safeguard your business' reputation.
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Tips & Warnings
An internal slip-and-fall prevention campaign is a good idea. This will help raise employee awareness of potential slip-and-fall hazards.
Be sure to keep outdoor walkways level and free of debris or standing water to help prevent falls.
References
- Photo Credit Spilling bowl image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com
