Slips, and falls are the primary cause of accidents and injuries of the workplace. While sometimes they result in only minor bruises or scratches, they can also end in head traumas, broken bones and lacerations. It is hardly surprising that trips, falls and slips are the most common cause of workers compensation.
If you yourself have had an accident at work contact Law Office Of Michael R. Herron to get the best legal advice.
To help remove this hazard from your workplace and minimize the dangers to employees and customers, the following article has some practical solutions to workplaces slips, falls and trips.
The Top Ten Ways You Can Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls Around the Workplace
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Keep walking areas free of debris and clutter.
Walkways are for walking and when there are other obstacles in the way, the dangers of tripping are increased. Unobstructed paths are clear of these potential hazards and ensure that no one will accidentally hit an unexpected object and take a dangerous fall.
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Lighting
Another way to avoid potential accidents is to keep the workplace and all access areas well-illuminated. This is especially important in hard to navigate areas that can be more problematic. Sometimes steps can be tucked behind a corner and perfectly hidden in the shadows. Proper lighting can clearly illuminate the edges and dangers of these situations.
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Signage
Clear signage is a great way to alert the passerby, be they employee or customer, of the potential dangers in a specific area. Signs should be placed at unexpected gaps, steps, uneven or loose terrain and areas that could be wet from irrigation systems or other activities. A bright reflective tape can also bring awareness to steps and other dangerous objects.
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Stairways/Handrails
Are all your stairs and balconies fitted with suitable handrails? They should also be clearly marked off with reflective tape and free of loose carpets rugs or other unsecure objects that can cause a potentially fatal accident. Keep stairways clear from obstacles and well-illuminated to reduce the risk of accidents and falls.
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Footwear
Are all of the people entering the property wearing appropriate footwear? Some areas require shoes with better traction to avoid slipping on wet or uneven grounds.
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Step stools
Ladders and proper step stools can help to reduce the risk of employees using creative methods of accessing items well out of their reach. Office chairs, inverted waste paper baskets, and other office objects are not proper load-bearing structures and can result in injuries when used to support the weight of a grown adult.
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Manage cords
This menace tends to hide just out of sight and can create endless hassle and dangerous risk to people carrying large loads. Be sure that cables and cords are properly tucked away along the side of the room and keep under carpets where they will not cause a danger to anyone walking by.
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Check floor conditions, inside and out
Make sure the conditions of the flooring are always on point. Cracks, fissures and other damaged flooring can potentially give way when stepped on and this can cause an individual to lose their footing and fall. Areas in such disrepair need to be mended immediately and have signage warning passersby of danger until they have been restored.
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Non-skid throw rugs on slippery surfaces
Do you have tile or hardwood flooring in areas that could become wet and slippery, like the bathroom, close to the entryways or windows? If so, lay down some non-slip mats in these areas to reduce the risk of slipping. Rugs can do this as well but make sure they are fitted with a non-slip pad beneath or they will not hold weight and can also cause a fall.
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Clean up spills immediately
Be sure you have an effective response prepared for the event that liquids are dropped onto the floor. Every second that spill remains on the floor the potential of a dangerous action is increased. When a spill occurs, set up a warning sign and clean up the areas as fast as possible.