When seasons change, the likelihood of workplace slips, trips and falls can be magnified. Unfortunately, slips, trips and falls occur every day across New York, and the repercussions of these incidents can be significant. Some of these accidents are avoidable as long as your facility practices certain proactive steps.
When increasing the floor safety in your building, the best place to begin is by carefully evaluating your facility. To avoid the risk of slips, trips and falls, get to know your facility inside and out. Begin by inspecting frequently trafficked areas where employees and clients first visit such as the parking lot, walkways and front door. While these are the areas that make the first impression of your business, they’re the places where slips, trips and falls occur most frequently.
Several factors can lead to slips, trips and falls. The changing of seasons usually means shorter days, and poor lighting can lead to a greater risk of injury. Falling leaves, irregular temperatures and inclement weather can also pose a risk. Frost and ice can make sidewalks, concrete surfaces and walkways slippery and difficult to navigate.
You can make uneven surfaces safer by filling in cracks in stairs, stone tiles and concrete before temperatures plummet. Also, evaluate any uneven areas or hard-to-see curbs on your property, and consider marking these places with bright reflective tape or yellow paint. If your parking lots or walkways are dimly lit, consider installing extra lighting to help increase visibility.
As cautious as you are, you may not always be able to prevent a serious injury from occurring. If you’re the victim of a slip, trip or fall accident, there may be long-lasting emotional and financial difficulties to face. An experienced slip and fall attorney may be able to help you navigate these issues so that you can recover quickly.