The Painful Impact of Slips, Trips and Falls
Slips, trips and falls are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries, according to the National Safety Council.
The impact on a company’s workforce with lost work days, medical costs and ultimately on insurance rates is significant.
- 25,000 –estimated number of incidents each day
- 95 million – the number of lost workdays per year
- $70 million – worker’s compensation and medical costs annually
- 57% — of general liability claims result from slips and falls
- 85% — of workers comp claims caused by slick floors
- 65% — of lost workdays are a result of slip and fall incidents
- 22% — of incidents lead to more than 31 lost workdays
Watch Out for these Problem Areas
Falls often occur in doorways, ramps, cluttered hallways, unstable work surfaces, ladders and stairs. Slips, trips and falls can occur almost anywhere, but there are areas around your workplace and home where these hazards are more likely to take place. It is important to be very aware of …
- Slippery surfaces, such as a gloss-finished tile, polished stone, etc.
- Holes or broken surfaces
- Uneven walking surfaces
- Poorly marked and/or poorly lit walkway transitions
- Wet surfaces caused by spills or poor drainage
- Slippery conditions due to mud, ice, snow or water during inclement weather
Take Precautionary Steps
Some common sense measures and routine inspection and maintenance can go a long way in protecting your employees and visitors from slips and falls.
- Periodically inspect your property to make sure walkways, stairs and work areas are in a safe condition
- Make sure all walkways are properly lit and mats are secured
- Maintain floors and repair unsafe areas immediately with the help of your Resin Flooring Contractors.
- Apply slip-resistant floor treatments where needed
- Use “wet floor” signs to warn of know hazards and clean up spills right away
Be Extra Vigilant at this Time of Year
During the winter months there is always a greater risk of slips, trips and falls because of the presence of ice and snow, but incidents can occur anytime and almost anywhere. By continually watching for potential hazards, there is less likelihood of future slip ups. Check out these Reviews Over At Eu Meds to help you find the best pain reliever in case you’ve been in an accident.
When an Accident Occurs
Promptly investigate all incidents, and document findings if an accident and/or injury occurs. This information can help prevent future incidents, and may be essential if a claim against the company is filed. If you’ve suffered injuries because of a slip and fall accident at the workplace, you might want to contact a personal injury lawyer. A professional personal injury lawyer can provide you expert legal assistance. In addition, a personal injury attorney can help you get the proper compensation you rightfully deserve after sustaining injuries from an accident.