As an experienced business owner, you are aware that your competitors aren’t the only threats to your business’s stability and longevity. Customers who file premises liability lawsuits for slip-and-fall accidents can hurt your finances and take your focus away from running your business.
While it is impossible to prevent this type of accident from occurring on your property, there are steps you can take to minimize the likelihood someone can slip, trip and fall and sue you for damages. You may be found liable if the injury victim’s attorney can establish that you knew an onsite hazard existed or should have known and did nothing to fix it. Taking a proactive approach today may limit your legal headaches tomorrow.
3 steps you can take to reduce onsite hazards
- Make it a point to monitor your premises daily, including the interior and exterior walkways and workspaces. Pay attention to walking surfaces, obstacles within walkways and hazards above eye level. When you travel the same circuit every day, you have the opportunity to notice slight changes in floor tiles, on stairs or other surfaces that may lead to slip or trip accidents.
- Create a policy that dictates the procedures employees need to follow when they notice an unsafe condition. Leave these instructions in your breakroom, utility closet or another place that employees frequent during their shifts. Update your employee handbook and job responsibilities so that each employee is aware of his or her role in mitigating these hazards.
- If you cannot fix a hazard on your premises right away, display caution signs that are easy to read and understand at dangerous sites. You may not be able to address the hazardous condition immediately, but you are responsible for warning your employees and your customers that dangerous conditions exist.
Putting a plan in place to promote workplace safety doesn’t have to be expensive. However, you will need to set aside time to design a thoughtful plan that your employees can implement easily and do so consistently. Consider this risk management and safety plan just another price of doing business and doing it well.