Slips and falls happen all the time. They are a significant cause of accidents in the US and account for most injuries and deaths. According to the CDC (Centers of Disease Control), slips and falls contribute to about 8 million injuries each year. Slips and falls are common in homes, workplaces, businesses, or residential properties.
If such accidents happen in your business premises, they can result in personal injury lawsuits and cost your company millions of money on employee treatment and compensation. In such a case, you’ll need to know who’s at fault. However, investigating a personal Injury case isn’t easy; this is why a skilled attorney will advise you to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Check out the common causes of slips and falls in business properties:
Table of Contents
1. Wet floors
Wet or slippery surfaces are a leading cause of accidents in properties and business premises. Can I tell you more? They can lead to severe injuries to workers and clients alike. The most hazardous floors are tile, terrazzo, or marble.
Slips and falls on wet surfaces can lead to different types of injuries. These include back, spinal cord, neck, or wrist injuries. It’s critical to wipe any spilled fluids on the floor. Drying your floor thoroughly after mopping also goes a long way. It ensures a clean working surface and helps avoid injuries.
2. Cluttered walkways
Keeping cabinets, desk drawers, or loose cables on walkways can cause falls in the workplace. Spills on the floors are also to blame; they can cause serious injuries, particularly when the walkways are cluttered.
To avoid this, avoid stretching cords and cables across walkways where employees or clients walk. Also, shut all drawers and cabinets when not in use and replace non-functional bulbs for adequate lighting on walkways.
3. Loose rugs
Loose rugs or carpets pose a great danger in any workplace. They are tripping hazards and can cause serious injuries when they slip out of place. It’s then vital to secure loose carpeting to get rid of it altogether. Torn or buckled carpets aren’t good either. These can increase the likelihood of slips and should be avoided. To avoid falls ad slips, use non-skid rugs with strong gripping power.
4. Broken stairs
Stairs pose serious health hazards. This mostly depends on the mode of construction and maintenance. Poorly built or broken stairs can cause slips and falls, resulting in severe injuries.
Other stairs issues that can cause accidents include;
- Tilted steps
- Steep stairs
- Uneven stair heights& widths
- Poor lighting
- Lack of loose handrails
5. Poor lighting
Poor lighting in business premises can cause eye strains, headaches, fatigue, stress, and accidents. Similarly, too much lighting can lead to safety and health issues such as glare and headaches. Both types of lighting can lead to poor work performance and accidents. These can be trips and falls on improperly illuminated areas like warehouses, staircases, or hallways. To avoid this hazard, use more reflected lighting to eliminate shadows.
In summary
There are various ways to prevent slips and falls in businesses. Ensure that there are loose cables or rugs on the floors. Also, invest in proper lights to ensure that all areas are well illuminated. For the stairs and hallways, declutter to ensure smooth movement.