In retail, the key to success is a steady stream of customers coming into your business and purchasing items. All of the activity increases the risks of an employee or customer eventually slipping, tripping, or falling and potentially injuring themselves and suing you for medical costs. It’s imperative that your business is protected with an Orlando Retail Workers’ Compensation policy. Protecting yourself from potential claims is smart, but so is being proactive about reducing injury in retail workplaces.
The Statistics are Sobering
According to the National Safety Council, more than 9 million people are seriously injured in slip-and-fall accidents annually (on average, each incident costs nearly $21,000.) You may also be shocked to learn that slips and falls also are a top cause of death in the U.S.
Ways You Can Reduce Slip-and-fall Injuries in the Workplace
It’s understandable that you want your floors to be clean and inviting, and one way to achieve that is to have them mopped regularly. Many people don’t realize that different flooring types should be cleaned with different types of cleaners. Not only does this prevent damage to the floor, but it also reduces residues that can make floors slippery.
Mopping isn’t the only cause of slick floors. The more foot traffic your business has, the more moisture and dirt will be tracked in from the outside. It’s important to purchase quality, high-traction rubber mats and place them strategically in high-risk areas. These mats have grooves that trap and retain dirt. Because vacuuming mats removes only a small fraction of this trapped debris, mats should be professionally cleaned on a regular basis.
Spills can happen anywhere in your facility, so make sure to have spill-cleanup “kits” conveniently located in multiple places and make sure all employees know where these kits are. Kits should include an appropriate solvent cleaner for the flooring type in question, cloths, a mop, and a cone or some type of marker to alert people to avoid the area until it is cleaned.
Slipperiness isn’t the only floor hazard. If you have carpets or rugs, make sure they are flat and used with padding or tape to ensure they don’t bunch up and create a tripping hazard. Similarly, if you use extension cords in your workplace, make sure they’re secured so they’re out of heavy traffic areas.
Hopefully, you’ll never experience the trauma of having an employee or customer seriously injured in an accident in your business. The risk is ever present, though, which is why you should call Newman Crane & Associates Insurance at (407) 859-3691 today to make sure you’re protected if a workplace accident does occur.