Be Prepared to Prevent Slip and Fall Injuries

Gary Smith for AAM BlogWRITTEN BY GARY SMITH, APARTMENT BUILDING MANAGEMENT WORKERS COMPENSATION SELF INSURED FUND

As another winter season fast approaches with its cold, wet and icy conditions, we need to focus our efforts on preventing slip and fall injuries. What exactly are we up against? Consider the following injury statistics.

The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that slip, trip and fall injuries send 9 million people to the hospital each year and are a leading cause of workers’ compensation claims, costing an average of $20,000 per accident. NSC further estimates that workers’ compensation and medical costs associated with employee slip and fall accidents are approximately $70 billion per year.

In its 2013 Workplace Safety Index, Liberty Mutual indicates that slip and falls on the same level were the second leading cause of all workplace injuries in 2013, accounting for 13.6 percent of direct costs associated with such injuries. Nearly 30 percent of these same level falls resulted in more than 21 workdays lost.

So, where and how do we focus our prevention efforts? Let’s get started with the following steps:

WALKWAY AUDITS. Walkway audits help to identify potential slip and fall hazards. They show your company is taking a proactive approach to slip and fall prevention and has the documentation to prove it.

TRAINING. Training procedures are needed for your employees, explaining items such as when and where to place de-icing agents and wet floor signs, how to respond to and clean up spills, the importance of reporting slips and falls or near-misses even when no injury has occurred, and a written protocol that all employees must follow. A signed statement showing employees understand and agree to your company’s policy and procedures is also recommended.

SIGNS AND BARRIERS. A sufficient number of floor safety signs and barriers are needed to alert employees (also tenants and their guests) about slip and fall hazard, such as spills, wet floors due to inclement weather, and so forth. This means if the building has three entrances, there should be a minimum of four to five wet floor signs available. This allows a wet floor sign for each entrance and two extra to be used in the event a spill occurs somewhere within the facility while the other signs are being used.

SAFETY-ENHANCING CLEANING PRODUCTS. Another tool that should be used in preventing slips and falls is the use of slip-resistant cleaners and degreasers. Safety-enhancing cleaners have proven to be very cost and performance effective, not only in maintaining and cleaning a facility’s floors, but also in raising and maintaining a positive coefficient of friction. These products are designed to replace existing cleaners and degreasers, and most require no further maintenance than your existing cleaners.

MATTING. In most cases, the mats used in the entrances of buildings are the first line of defense against slips and falls. For suggestions on where and what type of floor matting may be best for your company, contact a floor safety consultant or inquire with the company that provides your mats.

SHOES! SHOES! SHOES! Not just any shoe, but slip-resistant shoes. While you have no control over what type of shoes your tenants and their guests wear, you do have control over the type of shoe you require your employees to wear. Slip-resistant shoes have proven to be effective in lowering employee slip and fall incidents when mandated and enforced. These shoes come in a variety of styles and sizes, which are also very comparable in price and comfort to ordinary shoes. Additionally, traction cleats (Google “traction cleats” for a list of popular brands) can be easily put on by employees performing outdoor work when icy conditions exist.

Focus your efforts now to enjoy a workplace free from slips and falls!

Should you need assistance with preventing slip and fall injuries in your workplace, please contact Gary Smith, CRM, at (517) 338-3367 or Gary.Smith@cmi-yorkrsg.com.

 

 

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