Common Safety Tips to Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of incidents that occur in the general workplace, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Whether it be on the wet floors of a busy kitchen, a trip over an uneven surface, or a quick slip down an icy sidewalk, our personal injury attorneys are here to help you.

One of the biggest challenges in a slip and fall case is determining if the property owner was negligent enough to be at-fault. But, having a slip and fall expert can double, if not triple, your chances of winning your slip and fall personal injury case. In the meantime, our expert attorneys here at The Advocates have put together a brief safety guide in avoiding slip and fall accidents in general.

Best Slip and Fall Tips for the Community

1. Whoever Spills It, Deals With It (Right Away)

Whether you run the kitchen of an Applebee’s or greet customers at the front counter of a Dutch Bros, it’s ultimately up to you, the property owner or employer, to keep surfaces safe and clean for your employees and customers. If a happens to occur:

• Put up a “Wet Floor” where needed
• Properly clean up the spill right away
• Lay down a powdery spill absorbent to immediately dry up the wet surface
• Place rubber mats in slip-prone areas, specifically in food prep or entrance ways

Having wet surfaces in or around the property of your facility puts you and your customers at risk of getting injured. And if a property owner is in fact aware of the spill or wet surface and neglects to have it cleaned immediately, they are more than likely the at-fault party for the slip and fall injury.

2. These Walkways are Made for Walking (Not Slip and Fall Accidents)

If you’ve ever seen a sidewalk coated in ice or a walkway that looked like an obstacle course than a grocery aisle, you probably recall how lucky you were not to slip, trip, or fall there, right? Not everyone is so lucky, but it’s up to the property owner to keep these environments clean and hazard-free. Here’s what The Advocates recommend:

• Keep walkways safe and clear at all times (sweep up leaves, shovel snow, put down salt)
• Avoid having electrical cords and wires exposed in walkways, but if necessary, tape them down
• Report milk spills or exploded orange juice containers to grocery store employees right away
• Fill in sidewalk cracks with cement or report it to your city as soon as possible

If a person slips or falls on a sidewalk in front of your business property or home due to an uneven or wet pavement, the property owner is ultimately liable for that person’s injuries.

3. Non-Slip Shoes: Safety First, Fashion Statement Later

While non-slip shoes don’t exactly measure up to a brand-new pair of Nike’s, they are considered the number one must-have item in the restaurant industry. Non-slip shoes practically save lives and act as a critical component in preventing slip and fall accidents in the food industry. The guide here is quite simple:

• Buy non-slip shoes
• Mandate that all restaurant employees wear non-slip shoes

Most employers in the food industry require all their employees to have non-slip shoes. Otherwise, it’s extremely hazardous to wear regular sneakers, solely on the fact that they don’t have that same sticky, rubbery grip like non-slip shoes.

4. “Lights, Cameras, Act—Wait, More Lighting!” 

Having a poorly lit work environment is extremely hazardous. If a workplace has faulty lighting, it’s important to let the employer know right away. Slip and fall accidents mostly occur when problems like this go unresolved. So, the best solutions to avoid slip and fall injuries, and lawsuits altogether, are:

• Install proper lighting in all areas of the business, especially in high-risk areas, such as the basement, the stairwell, and areas under construction.
• Do not continue working if faulty lights are putting you and other employees at risk of getting injured
• Immediately repair faulty light fixtures
• Keep all work areas well-lit and clean for employees

Working in the dark isn’t fun and it’s also incredibly dangerous. So, just don’t do it. Business and property owners are responsible for the lighting in their businesses. Keep in mind that if an employee is injured due to faulty lighting, the property owner is ultimately at-fault for their employees injuries.

Call The Advocates for a FREE Case Evaluation

Did you know that over 900,000 people suffer injuries in a slip and fall accident each year? These injuries can be avoided, which is why it’s important for you to contact our Advocates if you’ve recently been hurt in a slip and fall accident.

Our Idaho Advocates will work with you on your personal injury case and help you determine who’s responsible for your injuries and suffering. Call us today at (208)-995-2444 or chat with one of our attorneys on our homepage.