Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. We do not expect accidents while being on the road on our way to work or home. However, unfortunately, slip, trip, and fall accidents happen every day in Central Florida, and these accidents can have a substantial impact on the victims’ life. The accident victim might get temporary injuries, which can lead to permanent disability, where the person might not be able to stand on their feet or work for a lifetime.
While considering different dangers in the workplace, house, or on the road, we often underestimate the effect of slips, trips, and falls. It has happened to most of us. It happens every day, the reasons being anything. The momentary lapse of attention or distraction by an activity might end in a slip, trip, or fall, whether it is tripping over an uneven surface, stumbling down a staircase, or slipping on a tile floor.
These accidents can be deadly, resulting in critical physical injury, high medical bills, economic pressure, and mental trauma, and you may go through a hellish experience. If you face a slip and fall accident, the Louis Berk Law Slip & Fall/Premises Liability Lawyers are ready to help you file a case against the responsible individuals, collect the evidence, and represent you before the honorable judge, if required.
According to the U.S. Department of Labour, slip, trip, and fall accidents have turned into the majority of the general industry accidents, which account for,
1. 15% of accidental deaths per year, the second leading cause after motor vehicle accidents.
2. 25% of people get injured every economic year.
3. Above 95 million people lose their work every year.
Data Source: https://www.grainger.com/
Usually, slips and trips happen due to the loss of traction between feet/shoes and the walking surface, or sudden contact with a stable and moveable object which might lead to a fall. Different situations are responsible for slip and fall, including,
● Wet floors
● Dry floors with wood dust or powder
● Rough walking surface
● Newly polished floor
● Loose carpets or mats
● Uneven floor tiles or bricks
● Irregular steps with no handrails
● Sloping
● Shoes with wet or oily souls
● Clutter
● Electrical cords or cables
● Floors without skid-resistant surfaces
● Rain, sleet, snow, frost, etc.
● Wet leaves
● Metal surfaces
Tips to Prevent Slip and fall
1. Maintain Regular Housekeeping Practices
Good housekeeping is critical. Safety and housekeeping always work together. If your housekeeping habits are poor, it may result in acute injuries and damages, high insurance costs, and regulatory citations. If the organization’s ambiance is noticeably clean and well-organized, it indicates that the overall safety program is effective.
Proper housekeeping at a residential or commercial place is routine. It is a constant process that is a part of every individual’s daily performance. You can consider the following simple steps to maintain an effective housekeeping program.
● Learn what to do, who is doing it, and the specific work area you need to cover.
● It is essential to allot a person or group of workers to clean up the space, and individuals also need to clean up the areas as a personal responsibility.
● Maintain housekeeping programs as a part of the daily routine.
2. Arrange for Proper Lights
Poor or low lights can increase the chances of accidents. Therefore, you must use proper illumination in the walkways, staircases, hallways, basements, ramps, dock areas, and construction areas. The work areas must be well-lit and clean. It will help if you always turn on the light while entering a dark room. It is essential to clean the clutter and debris from the walkways. You should always switch on the lights to make the view clear and accessible. In case you find any malfunction, it is advisable to repair fixtures and cords immediately. You can prevent slip, trip, and fall accidents by installing proper light sets in the busiest places.
3. Don’t Leave Surfaces Slippery
The walking surface plays a significant role in the injuries that the state agencies report. The most frequently reported kinds of surfaces where mostly slip and fall injuries occur are:
● Parking lots
● Kitchen and dining space
● Bathrooms and shower areas in residential houses
● Sidewalks
● General tile floors
Traction on outdoor surfaces can change effectively when weather conditions change. The conditions can affect indoor surfaces as pedestrian traffic creates moisture. The traction control procedures must be under consideration as you need to keep the parking lots and sidewalks clean and in a fine repairing condition, with pure snow and ice from the surfaces, and it is always better to suspend the use of the area. You may apply adhesive striping material or anti-skid paint whenever possible.
In indoor spaces, the control measures help reduce slip and fall accidents. To prevent mishaps, you can use moisture-absorbent mats with sharp edges in entrance areas. You need to ensure they have backing material so that anyone does not slide on the floor. You can show up “wet floor” signs if required. Florida Pedestrian Accident Attorneys can guide you with more protective measures and vital advice. It is highly effective to use anti-skid adhesive tape in dangerous areas. You must clean up spills immediately and create a plan for taking the right action when someone causes or comes across a drink or food spill. You can also prevent slip, strip, and fall accidents by using proper area rugs and mats.
4. Wear Proper Shoes
Shoes play a vital role in resulting in or preventing slip and fall cases and are a critical component of Personal Protective Equipment. You must check the slickness of the soles and types of heels to avoid slipping, tripping, and falling. Always tie the shoelaces correctly before going for a walk or job. Whenever an investigation takes place regarding fall-rated injury, footwear comes as one of the most responsible factors. In workspace, employees must wear appropriate footwear while completing the task and preventing accidents.
5. Avoid Creating Obstacles in Walkways
When you don’t clear the clutter, materials, equipment, and other obstacles from the corridors, entrance ways, and stairwells, the chances of slipping or tripping become high. Critical injuries result from slips and trips. Regular housekeeping in job and traffic areas is still the most useful precaution to help you avoid these kinds of unwanted hazards. It implies that you need to set up policies or procedures in places and allot time for cleaning the area when scrap material or waste is a byproduct of a specific work operation.
● Keep all work areas, passageways, and service areas clean and organized.
● Avoid cords or cables across hallways in any designated aisle.
● It is advisable to avoid leaving boxes and briefcases in the passageways.
● Always go for safe work practices, like closing file cabinet drawers after use or wiping away random items from the floor.
● It is practical to run regular inspections for slip and trip accidents.
6. Control Individual Behavior
One of the most challenging jobs is to control individual behavior. Sometimes, we allow our guards to be down temporarily, as we experience distraction by random thoughts or do several activities simultaneously. Hurry at workplaces results in walking fast or running, causing slips and falls. Using mobile phones, carrying items that can obstruct vision, wearing sunglasses in low light areas, taking shortcuts, not seeing where you are heading, not using suitable walkways, and high speed are the most common factors in many on-the-job injuries. As individuals, everyone needs to plan, stay alert, and pay attention to the nooks and corners of the workplace. Take 2 minutes extra, but do not harm yourself in the course of completing a job fast.
Slips and trips continue to be the leading causes of injuries. According to surveys, slip and fall injuries are the second-highest factor behind accidents. In short, these types of accidents happen due to loss of balance or connection between your foot and the walking surface. Distractions remain at the peak in causing this type of injury. It is nearly impossible to resist slipping, tripping, and falling on a daily basis. But these proactive safety tips can help you avoid these accidents. If, unfortunately, you face any such mishaps, consult the Slip & Fall/Premises Liability Lawyers at Louis Berk Law firm to deal with your insurance companies and help you receive the compensation you deserve.