The Kansas City temperatures will soon be dropping. This is a great time to make sure your facility is prepared to prevent slips, trips and falls. Unnecessary injuries and deaths on the job are no laughing matter. Slips, trips and falls make up the majority of general industry accidents even though workers commonly face dangerous equipment and hazardous conditions daily. They also account for 15% of all accidental deaths that were preventable!
When you, your staff and visitors at your facility are paying more attention to the wayfinding signage than walking, slips and falls are bound to happen. Although a safe floor program can help in preventing falls and injuries, as well as protecting your facility from legal troubles, workers and visitors may not be getting the message. The cost of those claims can skyrocket, depending on who suffers the accident. The claim for a healthy teenager falling in your parking lot can be relatively small compared to an older person who breaks their hip and needs major surgery.
To keep workers safe and to avoid loss of productivity, higher insurance premiums and worker replacement costs, be sure to read the following slip, trip and fall prevention tips. The following list of hazards in a facility present danger and an increased risk of a slip, trip or fall:
- Standing water, grease, oil and foods on floors
- Poor lighting
- Uneven outdoor/indoor walking surfaces
- Drainage problems
- Stairway handrails that are badly constructed
Signs Aren’t Enough
The real problem at many facilities, according to experts, is the belief that placing a sign in front of spill or next to an uneven surface about to be repaired is will prevent an accident. A facility or property manager or should be doing much more than placing signs at the first indication of spilled water. When protecting workers and visitors from falls and spills, be sure to check the following at your facility:
- Facility’s insurance coverage
- Monitoring of the condition of the flooring, walkways and stairwells regularly
- Procedures for ever-changing weather conditions
- Continued safety training for staff
- Carpeting and mats inspection for signs of wear and tear
- Use non-skid waxes or surfaces coated with grit to create non-slip surfaces
If you have not checked the above recently or need help creating a safer workplace, contact MAC today. MAC is a contractor Kansas City property and facility managers have trusted for more than 25 years. MAC can help you with any facility repairs, remodeling, custom cabinetry, construction and many other projects.