Why and How Should You Focus on Removing Slip and Fall Hazards From Your Office?

According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 17000 people die in the US annually because of slip, trip, and fall injuries, of which 15% are job-related (accidents happened in workplaces).

If not death, the accident leads to many other chronic health issues. The injuries inhibit mobility and hamper independent living and cause traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Even if the intensity of fall is low, people suffer from common fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand. In simple words, slip and fall injuries are dangerous.

As the numbers of these injuries are high in the workplace, you should very careful with your slip and fall prevention plan. As a business owner, you should regularly check the prevention plan to stay on top of your obligation, keep your employees safe and protect your business from the negative effects of an accident.

Why is it important to focus on slip and fall prevention plans?

• The human factor is essential for the smooth functioning of your business. If your workplace is safe and actively preventing such accidents, the employees and customers will feel safe in the building. They will work without fear and give good results.
• In most provinces, the law obligates employers to take every reasonable step to protect their employees and educate them about safety at the workplace. If you do not do so, you may face high penalties and inspections from authorities.
• The slip and fall accidents impact business reputation. If your customer suffered an accident on your premises, it is hard to remove the thoughts from his/her mind. Also, new employees hesitate to work at a company that has seen a recent accident.
• Last and not least, your company will suffer financial issues if slip and fall prevention plans are worked upon properly. Your employees will get hurt and take off from work, which means you have to pay someone else for their work. Also, you have to pay benefits during the recovery period of your employees. It will increase your cost and impact productivity.

How to prevent slip and fall accidents in your workplace?

Install proper lighting– Your workplace should be illuminating properly 24/7. The entry and exit passage and areas often used by your employees and customers should be bright and shining. It will help them to avoid slipping and falling. So you should choose and install good quality lights in your office.

Wear anti-slippery shoes– We know it’s a bit difficult to implement this rule in your office because employees wear what they love. But still, you should circulate the information in your office and explain the importance. The shoes should be with proper traction that is resistant to slips.

Clean up spills immediately – You should designate people to clean up spills immediately because you or employees cannot do this work, keeping aside the core responsibilities. According to us, you should hire janitorial services to clean up spills before they become slipping hazards. During clean-up, it’s important to place warning signs around the area.

Keep walkaways clean– Other than proper lighting and immediate cleaning, you should make sure walkaways are clutter-free. There should be no obstacles or debris to avoid trips and falls. With this, the chances of slipping hazards will reduce significantly.

Other than these steps, cleanliness is important for preventing slip and fall accidents. Not general cleaning, but something that only professionals can do. So you should invest in janitorial services now.