Nearly everyone has or will experience a slip and fall at some point in their lives. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these accidents account for 25 percent of all reported injury claims.
Contact the best Huntington Beach Personal Injury Attorneys at El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers to discuss your slip-and-fall claim.
Fix Loose Flooring
When it comes to slip, trip, and fall accidents, floors are the biggest culprit, which is why they should always be maintained in a safe condition. This includes fixing loose tiles, replacing worn carpeting, and filling potholes, when necessary. It may also involve having your floors regularly inspected to ensure they are even, firm, and safe for use.
If you use floor mats on your doors and entrance, you should also check that they are not folded or tape them to the floor if you receive constant traffic.
Remove Obstacles from Floors
Anything lying on the floor can be an obstacle and a possible tripping hazard. This includes everything from construction materials and boxes to power cords and cables. To prevent your floors from clutter, you should consider the following safety tips:
- Keep all doors and drawers closed when they are not in use.
- Avoid depositing files, boxes, and briefcases on floors.
- Keep your workstations, hallways, service areas, and storerooms clutter-free.
- Remove hoses, wires, and cables from across the floors or tape them to the sidewalls.
Post Warning Signs
It is normal for floors to become wet from time to time, especially after mopping or waxing them. However, you should never let visitors to your property walk on wet floors without warning them of the condition. You can do this by posting large, clear ‘wet floor’ signs every time you clean your floors. You may also post signs to warn them of other dangerous conditions such as a loose tile.
Keep Floors Clean and Dry
The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) reports that 85% of workers’ compensation claims are caused by slips and falls on wet and slippery floors. Besides posting warning signs on wet floors, you should also clean spills promptly, lay down anti-skid adhesive tape, and use moisture-absorbent mats.
Provide Adequate Lighting
A good number of slip, trip, and fall cases happen because the victim could not see the hazard before they encountered it, which can be attributed to poor lighting. To prevent such incidents, you should always ensure that hallways, walkways, storerooms, and sidewalks are well-lit. You should also regularly check and replace light bulbs and electrical cords.
Wear Proper Footwear
Whether you work in an office or construction site, you should always wear proper footwear. The soles should not be worn, should be non-slip, and should have enough traction. If you prefer to wear heeled shoes, you should be careful to ensure they don’t get caught in carpets when you walk.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Slip-and-fall injuries can be life-altering, which is why slip, trip, and fall prevention is crucial to ensuring safety at home, in the workplace, and on commercial property. If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, contact the Huntington Beach Personal Injury Attorneys at El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers today online or at 888-542-6021 to schedule a free consultation.