Trips and falls are real hazards for employees and civilians alike. State Property Management Team says that as a landowner, it’s your responsibility to prevent as many incidents as you can. The best way to do so is to have a plan in place to prevent slips and falls. Plus, having precautions in place will protect you in case of an incident.
If you’re a property owner eager to prevent falls, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to provide you with our tried-and-true tips for preventing slips and falls on your property.
Limit Wet and Slippery Surfaces
Food preparation areas and parking lots are notorious for getting slippery. The best thing you can do as the owner is limit this as much as possible. For example, whenever janitors mop, they should always leave “wet floor” signs to warn pedestrians. However, sometimes this is out of our control, like when it rains. For these situations, you can use an anti-skid coating on your parking lot to make it fall-proof. Adhesive striping material can serve the same purpose if you can’t afford to coat the whole lot.
Install Cast-in-Place Trench Drains
If you own a restaurant, cast-in-place trench drains will help you effectively manage water. They’re perfect for your dishwashing area. Since the drains form a trench, gravity will do all the work for you. As soon as water appears on the floor, it will migrate to the drain. Implementing these drains can drastically reduce the number of slick surfaces.
Keep Areas Brightly Lit
Slick surfaces aren’t the only causes for slips and falls. If an area isn’t well lit, that can also lead to incidents. Take a quick walk around your property and take note of any dark areas. Also, check with your staff on which areas they have the most challenging time seeing. That way, you’ll know exactly where you need to add more lighting. As long as your property is brightly lit, pedestrians won’t have a hard time seeing where to step.
Remove Obstacles
Are your rooms or hallways filled with clutter? If so, then you aren’t doing yourself any favors. Obstacles in the halls are notorious trip hazards. Make an effort to declutter all your essential walkways. Start by taking some time sorting through everything, getting rid of what you can, and organizing the rest by using storage containers.
Those are our tips for preventing slips and falls on your property. While you can never make a property completely slip-proof, you can do a lot to avoid incidents. Remember to use the proper drains, limit slippery surfaces, and keep your halls well-lit and free of obstacles.