Is your business safe from slips and falls? According to the National Floor Safety Institute’s report, slips and falls constitute over one million emergency hospital visits yearly. At places of business, they account for a significant number of accidental injuries to customers and employees.
Slip-and-fall accidents can end in minor bruises, severe injuries, disability, or even death. Companies may even be held liable if proven negligent in maintaining a safe environment. This can cause disruptions and devastating financial losses to your business.
With so much on your plate, the last thing you want and need to worry about is a lawsuit. So how can you prevent slips and falls on your business property? You can’t completely get rid of them, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of injury and liability.
This article highlights six things you can do to protect your business from slip-and-fall injury lawsuits.
Identify Potential Hazards
Numerous workplace hazards can stir up slips and falls. The first critical step to protecting your business from being sued is to identify the potential risks in your property. Schedule regular inspections on the premises and look for anything that could cause an accident, such as the following:
- Slippery floorings, uneven walkways, potholes, or bumps
- Loose electrical cords or cables
- Insufficient lighting and lack of signage
- Cluttered work areas
- Unanchored mats and rugs
- Weather hazards
Document Hazard Inspections
After inspections, it’s essential to document every hazard, whether big or small. Ensure your business has a standard procedure to clean, repair, and report those hazards. You should record every step you take in addressing the hazards and maintaining your property. A well-documented record of your safety efforts will help keep your business safe if a lawsuit arises.
Implement Safe Work Practices
Maintaining safety in your business is a team effort. Establish safe work practices and ensure that employees are well-trained and knowledgeable in following them. They should know how to place signage and report any spills or other potential hazards as soon as they catch their attention. Regular basic safety training can help reduce the likelihood of slips and falls in your company.
Develop a Slip-and-Fall Action Plan
Despite your best efforts in inspecting and eliminating hazards, someone may still slip and fall at your place of business. How you handle it can be a significant factor in determining the outcome of a slip-and fall-case.
Protect your business by developing a slip-and-fall action plan. Ensure your employees know what to do when a slip-and-fall accident occurs. It may include helping the victim receive medical attention, creating an incident report, and documenting photos. A standard procedure can help reduce claims and the likelihood of similar accidents.
Install a Surveillance System
When a slip-and-fall accident happens on your business’s property, you may have to prove that you’re not guilty of negligence and wrongdoing. You can do that by installing a surveillance camera in strategic locations of your company. This will help you monitor accidents and reduce the likelihood of false claims.
Get in Touch with Legal Professionals
Safety guidelines are crucial to protect your business from the risk of slip-and-fall injury lawsuits, but note that states may have different laws regarding slip-and-fall-accidents. Thus, it would be wise to contact legal professionals like Fuicelii & Lee Injury Lawyers. They can help you develop a slip-and-fall action plan and counsel you on other related issues affecting you and your business.
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