Preventing Slip and Fall Hazards in the Cleaning & Maintenance Field

Having the power and strategy to prevent all slip and fall accidents would be ideal for any business looking to avoid liabilities and costly lawsuits from injured parties. But this is a pipedream to a certain degree as businesses like carpet cleaning and maintenance businesses can’t completely prevent these accidents. However, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the number of issues and decrease the risk that businesses face every day.

A slip and fall accident can happen almost anywhere. When an accident does take place, a company may find itself the target of a major personal injury lawsuit and become legally liable for damages, such as medical costs and hospital bills.

The following steps can help to limit these risks and potential for bigger issues down the road.

Regular Inspections

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), floors and flooring materials that can cause obstructions contribute to more than two million falls injuries every year in businesses. Cleaning and maintenance companies can prevent further slip and fall accidents from taking place by first implementing regular inspections to understand which areas have the highest potential for risk.

Business owners can walk the premises to look for hazards, such as wet floors, cracks, and uneven surfaces, that could end up bringing harm to a customer or visitor. Walkways should be kept well-lit and slip-resistant, especially if they are exposed to rain or snow during the winter.

A record of these inspections should also be kept when a hazard of any kind appears at a place of business. These records should include what a business did to take care of it as well, so if the same kind of issue comes up later supervisors and staff know how to handle it.

Display Warning Signs

Signage should always put out when a wet spot is detected, especially while the matter is in the process of being taken care of. This will help to inform visitors until an issue can be cleaned up or repaired. Signs that can be moved can help to warn people about temporary hazards like slippery floors.

Camera Systems

A surveillance system can aid in reducing slip and fall risks by monitoring a business for situations that may pose a threat. Video camera systems can help to record accidents and help solve claims, showing proof one way or the other in a case and cutting out the potential for costly false claims.

Getting in Touch with Insurance

Businesses that operate within the cleaning, janitorial, or maintenance sectors can reach out to their insurance providers to better manage claim costs. General liability can cover upfront medical expenses for a customer or visitor who falls and becomes injured as well as provide the means for legal defense if the customer or individual decides to take the case to court in suing a company. Any coverage gaps can be taken care of through specific protection, like carpet cleaning insurance for cleaning businesses.

About Tangram Insurance Services

Located across the Golden Gate Bridge, just outside of San Francisco, Tangram Insurance Services is a full-service Managing General Underwriter and Program Manager offering specialty programs. We focus on industry-relevant coverage, competitive pricing, and practical business and risk management solutions for your clients. Since we are not all things to all people, we make sure to create outstanding custom-built solutions that matter to those businesses, and the brokers who serve those industries. Contact us at (888) 744-9810.