As the weather grows colder, wetter, and quite slippery, it’s more important than ever to invest in preventative measures. Staying safe in the winter involves more than staying alert. You need to outfit your property with the proper tools to ensure everyone can have a wonderful and safe holiday season.
Slip and fall injuries can happen in any environment. Certain industries, including construction, trucking, manufacturing, and healthcare, are especially susceptible. Preventing injuries is the best way to ensure your business is not blindsided by personal injury and workers’ compensation disputes. Also, insurance providers may offer benefits for outfitting your property appropriately.
Good Housekeeping
The first step toward preventing accidents is maintaining a clean area. The janitorial and housekeeping staff should stay alert to any potential hazards and act immediately. Be sure to have plans in place to deal with any unexpected circumstances. These employees or contractors are an essential part of maintaining a smoothly operating business. It may be tempting to overlook their contribution, but it could cost you in the long run.
Keep all parking lots, walkways, and interior surfaces clean and dry at all times. Any place where there is likely to be high traffic is a potential slip and fall waiting to happen. Inform your employees and work with the maintenance staff to identify and resolve any potential hazards. Housekeepers cannot be everywhere at once. They rely on the eyes and ears of the other employees to act in a timely manner. If one of your employees spills a soda, make sure they know to alert the right people.
Routine inspections are a great way to ensure proper operation. Talk to your employees about their concerns. They will welcome the opportunity to voice their opinions, and it will keep them involved in the process. The best measures are preventative ones.
The Great Outdoors
The outside of your property is where most of the winter damage happens. Be on the lookout for snow accumulation by staying on top of weather forecasts. If you have become familiar with a building, you should know where the weak spots are and be able to plan ahead. You can use regular salting and other surface treatments for melting icy spots.
Also block off especially troublesome spots. A barricade is usually enough to deter anyone from entering the restricted area. To make it through the tough winter months, you need to inspect for damages continually. Extreme weather is known to cause cracks in pavement, depreciate handrails, and ruin drainage systems.
The Great Indoors
For the interior, focus on walkways and gathering spots where people are likely to bring the remnants of winter inside with them. At W. Winston Briggs Law Firm, we specialize in personal injury cases. We have seen plenty of accidents arise from seemingly innocent situations. Always be on the lookout for hazards, as they may affect your operation.
Again, good housekeeping, routine inspections, and a heightened awareness are required to make it through the winter months unscathed. Have a warm and happy holiday season!