8 Tips to Prevent Slip and Fall Injuries on Business Property

Your workplace environment should be a place where your workers feel safe doing their jobs. The leading causes of workplace injuries and worker’s compensation fee claims are slips and falls. They also have the potential of inducing permanent damage into the lives of customers and employees by causing fractures, disabilities, head traumas, and possibly even death.

According to www.capazlaw.com, general liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage will help cover these claims. But what if the slips and falls didn’t have to happen at all? All this can be avoided by taking preventative and precautionary measures in your workplace environment. If you’re seeking legal assistance for slip and fall injuries on business property, consider consulting with an experienced slip and fall lawyers in Philadelphia. Here are a few ideas.

Maintain Clear Paths and Hallways

Clutter and physical obstructions in your walkways tend to disrupt balance while walking. Tripping hazards could be as big as a cabinet that is a couple of inches out of place to a small banana peel left carelessly on the floor. These objects are usually unexpected and hence difficult to anticipate. Ensure you place bins strategically where unused clutter can be stored and thrown away. 

Install Proper Hand Railings

According to this website, elevated areas are a fall hazard that require immediate attention. Balconies, stairs, and other elevated places must be fitted with safety railings to prevent falls in the workplace.

Secure the Cords

Power, internet, phone, and extension cables always go unnoticed in the office and could cause serious injuries. According to Maier Gutierrez, aside from being tripping and fall hazards, they carry current in them and, when left unexposed, could lead to serious life-threatening accidents. Secure all cords as high as possible and away from walking areas. Let the cables run along the walls and not the floors if possible.

Assign Non-skid Footwear

Employees working in high-risk areas must be assigned footwear with great traction. Workplaces such as bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas prone to spills can easily cause slips. Footwear with a good amount of treading will provide enough static friction to prevent slips and falls.

Invest in Proper Lighting

If you can’t see it, how will you avoid it. Areas with improper lighting are a major safety concern and a slip and fall hazard. Making objects in the dark is hard, so you risk an injury. Ensure you replace faulty switches and bulbs and install bulbs with ample lighting to mitigate the risks. 

Place Warning Signs

Problem areas such as construction sites in the workplace, uneven floors, unstable stairways, and wet floors should be highlighted using signs. This helps to inform people and ensure they are careful when walking around.

Install Non-skid Pads, Rugs, and Coverings

You can increase the static coefficient of a slippery surface by installing non-skid rugs in problematic areas. This helps to increase friction and provide balance in the workplace for customers and workers alike.

Ensure that all workplace rugs, pads, and coverings are securely fitted to the floor by nailing them or using adhesive tapes.

Tend to Spills Immediately They Occur

When a spill occurs, it immediately becomes a slip and fall hazard. Water spills are especially notorious for their invisibility and hence cause accidents. If it is a big spill, immediately put up warning signs before tackling the cleanup process.

Conclusion

Even after carrying out all these preventative practices, there is still a risk of slips and falls. Ensure you have an insurance policy that covers your business and protects it from taking a hit with expenses in the event of an accident.