Slip and Fall Accidents: A Real Problem for Businesses
This entry was posted on May 23, 2014.
Did you know that slip and fall accidents is one of the leading cause of employee accidents that require loss time from work? It’s also one of the main reasons why many companies find themselves in the middle of a big lawsuit. You are responsible for keeping both your employees and customers safe when they’re on your property, so you must do everything you can to prevent these accidents from happening.
If someone falls in your place of business due to negligence on your part, you may be required to pay the person a settlement that covers their medical bills and the mental anguish they went through due to the accident. Depending on the extent of the injury and the circumstances, this could end up costing a great deal of money.
Being found liability for an accident can hurt your company’s reputation and cripple you financially, especially if you have a small business. Therefore, it’s vital that you follow the proper steps to protect your employees, your customers and your business. Knowing the leading cause of slip and fall accidents will go a long ways in helping you prevent them from happening.
What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents
A number of different things can cause a slip and fall accident. Some of them are out of your control but you can take steps to reduce your risks. For example, poor lighting, items out of place and damp flooring are all things that can cause people to slip or trip and fall but they are things you can fix.
You must also be aware that sometimes people fake slip and fall accidents and it happens more often than you may realize. People do this in hopes of acquiring a large settlement from the company as a form of income. Fortunately, you can do several things to reduce the risks of both real and fake accidents from occurring in your place of business.
Tips for Preventing Slip and Fall Accidents
You can reduce the risks of an accident happening on your property by providing adequate lighting throughout the inside and outside of your facility. You should also avoid clutter. Everything should have a place and be kept up off the floor. Keeping your floors free of moisture is also an important part of preventing accidents caused by falls.
One of the best ways to do this is by investing in commercial floor mats. Entrance mats will reduce the amount of debris and moisture tracked into your establishment, keeping your floors clean and dry. Using commercial floor mats throughout your facility will help reduce the risks of falls even more. However, you do need to invest in good quality floor mats and don’t forget to use wet floor signs when the floor is damp due to spills or mopping.
Installing cameras throughout the building, both inside and out will help reduce the risk of being the victim of a fake accident. When an accident is caught on film, it’s much easier to prove that you done everything possible to make your establishment a safe place for everyone that enters. This will help prevent you from being found liable in a court of law.
When you take steps to prevent slip and fall accidents, you’re protecting your business in the process.
