Accidents Happen- Suggestions to Help Business Owners Reduce the Risk of Slips, Trips, and Falls

Accidents happen. One of the most common occurrences we see that affect our commercial customers are slip, trip and fall accidents. Each year, millions of people are treated in emergency rooms related to injuries sustained in slips, trips, or falls. It’s smart for property owners to do what they can to mitigate the possibility of injury before they occur.

Top Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards at Businesses 

Staircases are a common place for slips, trips, and falls to occur. To reduce the likelihood of placing any of your employees or guests at risk:

• Make repairs to stair ways that have unsteady or broken handrails.
• Attempt to repair steps that have irregular sizes, if not, make sure you put warning signs in plain view.
• Update lighting in stairwells that are dark.
• Frequently check stairwells to ensure that there are no objects left on them.

Escalators that are not in service can cause accidents because they are not the correct height for normal walking. If possible, block off the escalator so that no one uses it as a stairway to get to the next level.

Walkways can have cracks that create uneven surfaces. These cracks can be caused by a variety of factors, such as settling or damage after a storm. Poor weather conditions can also cause slipping, tripping, or falling when puddles of water collect and/or freeze up. Be sure to schedule regular inspections of walkways to ensure they there are no uneven surfaces or debris. Have an inclement weather plan in place so that you can do your best to prevent injuries.

Parking Lot Safety for Businesses 

If your property has a parking area, there are many places for a slip and fall or trip and fall incident to occur. Plan to:

• Make sure the area is well lit so that people can see tripping hazards before an accident occurs.
• If there are speed bumps or wheel stops, regularly paint them with a bright color so that they will stand out.
• Be on the lookout for uneven surfaces and schedule maintenance as soon as possible. In the meantime, block off dangerous areas with cones or tape so that no one is injured before the repair is made.
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If you haven’t already, we recommend that you create a formal slip, trip, and fall prevention program. If you have any questions regarding your business’ insurance coverage, reach out to one of our local offices today.

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.