SLIPPERY WHEN WET...OR DRY
By Dan Weedin, CIC
I recently learned that there are over 600 slips and falls at businesses around this country every day. Think about how that liability exposure might impact your business. If you run a storefront, have an office, own a restaurant, or work on a construction site, opportunities for slip and fall accidents are very real. And slips and falls are potentially a double-edged sword for risk managers.
On one hand, you have customers who could get hurt at your business. Whether the result is loss of trust, bad press, or higher insurance premiums, minimizing the possibility of slips and falls is crucial to any risk management plan.
On the other hand, one of your employees could be injured in a slip and fall accident. If that happens, you have a worker’s compensation claim, loss of production, and perhaps decreased morale.
I have seen insurance claims for slips and falls resulting in damage awards of $30,000 and up. Reserves (the amount your insurance company thinks it might have to pay to an injured party) can often be well over $100,000. Slips and falls are serious business.
So how do you avoid slips and falls? Mostly, through pure common sense. However, impatience, distraction, and familiarity with our surroundings can sometimes cause us to lose that common sense. Let me briefly touch on these three areas:
Impatience – We are always in a hurry it seems. Whether we are running into the grocery store to pick up a quick item or rushing off to a meeting, our focus isn’t on what’s in front of us. We seem to somehow lose our peripheral vision and fail to see potential hazards. In addition, we may lack the patience to wait for the right equipment, especially in construction or warehouse work. Have you ever seen someone overreaching or climbing to get something because they didn’t want to wait for a ladder or lift? Have you ever done that? I know I have! This scenario creates a high probability for a serious fall.
Distraction – Have you ever seen someone reading or preparing for a presentation while he or she is walking through the office? Where is that person’s focus? It’s certainly not on what’s in front of him. Take the time to slow things down and be aware of possible slip and fall hazards, such as extension cords, wet spots, and icy sidewalks. Distraction can also occur on a job site. Stay in one place while you review blueprints and other written material. A job site is not the place to walk around without watching where you are going.
Familiarity – If you spend a lot of time in the same place – like your home, office, or business – you might develop a false sense of security. The walking patterns that you normally follow when you move around become routine, and you may be more inclined to distractions such as reading or talking to others. Always keep your awareness level high. You never know if a place that’s normally dry has become wet or a cord is now strung where there’s never been one before. Even outside of work, this can be a huge issue, especially if you have kids at home! Things always seem to pop up all of a sudden and land in the wrong spot.
One final note. Although I’m of the opinion that we need to take responsibility for our own safety, we also should be aware of hazards so others don’t get injured. If you see some spilled nails, a wet entryway, or an icy sidewalk, take the time to fix it. If you can’t, then at least mark it while you get someone who can. Your customers and co-workers will benefit from your caution, whether they know it or not.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. When it comes to slips and falls, make sure you are taking care of yourself and others by raising your awareness.
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