Falls can be as painful for your business as it is for your customers. Lawsuits for personal injury, such as those caused by a fall, are commonplace with many traders , and you need to be prepared for them.
After all, preventable accidents are one of the leading causes of injury in Canada, according to a 2015 cost of injury report by Parachute , a national charity. In Canada, every hour, 427 people suffer a preventable injury due to a fall, a road accident, a fire, poisoning, drowning or other. In addition, according to Workplace Safety & Prevention Services , in 2016, falls resulted in 11,495 lost-time injury claims in Ontario - equivalent to 31 workers injured per day.
Here, then, in light of these deplorable statistics, some tips to prevent falls on the premises of your business.
Pay attention to the water
Water is one of the main causes of falling. In some companies, there is no shortage of areas conducive to the accumulation of water; for example, in a grocery store, you can think of bathrooms, aisles of freezers, entrance halls, the fruit and vegetable department and that of flowers. Daily activities are enough to make the floor soaked (and therefore slippery). Here are some habits you can take to prevent incidents:
If possible, install non-slip flooring or mats in hazardous locations.
Ask an employee to regularly inspect areas prone to water accumulation - and to mop them up immediately.
Post “wet floor” posters as needed.
In winter, frost can cause a lot of worry. It is cold in Canada; we know it and we can't do anything about it. However, you can take action to protect your employees from ice fall by putting these tips into practice:
Regularly inspect the parking lot and accesses, and use deicing salt or another method to secure a path for your customers.
Constantly monitor the accumulation of water, slush or snow in the parking lot and access roads.
Bypass any downspouts that drain into your parking lot or onto your sidewalks to prevent ice buildup in high-traffic areas.
Make sure that all emergency exits and exterior stairs are not snow-covered or obstructed. This concerns in particular the aisles which lead to the assembly points fixed in case of emergency evacuation.
Make sure the paths are lit and clear
Adequately light the paths where pedestrians circulate, especially those outside where people circulate in the evening.
Make sure aisles, exits and floors are clean, free and dry.
Check that nothing obstructs traffic in aisles and footpaths: table legs, shelves, protruding portion of wall, etc.
Repair or replace any missing or unstable tiles or carpets.
Mark uneven surfaces that pose a risk of falling, and make the necessary repairs as soon as possible.
Arrange your merchandise securely
Do not stack your items in such a way that they are easy to hang, knock over or break.
Avoid placing heavy or fragile items high.
Make sure to adjust the height of your shelves so that the items are within the reach of a medium-sized person.
Perform regular rounds
Inspect and replace all carpets at regular intervals.
At least once per shift, an employee should check that nothing drips or is broken on shelves and displays.
Regularly inspect your parking lot and check for potholes, cracks, uneven surfaces, and annoying Debris Chutes. You should take immediate action if you notice a potential hazard and report it clearly to customers until the problem is resolved.
You should regularly check the condition of the steps and banisters on all of your stairs and make sure they are non-slip.
Try to schedule maintenance tasks after hours are closed or at low traffic times. Floor cleanliness is important, but freshly washed floors can be dangerous for your customers - even if you install a "wet floor" sign.
Be sure to keep records of all maintenance activities (for example, spreading sand or salt in the parking lot). These documents will be of great help in the event of a complaint, and will help your employees to follow the established procedures.
What if something goes wrong anyway?
The key is to have a formal intervention plan. Leave incident report forms on site for the claimant and witnesses to record the circumstances of the incident. It is also recommended to photograph the places where the person fell and the shoes they were wearing. Despite all your precautions, someone can still fall on your property. This is why it is important to have the right insurance policy to protect you. When a third party is injured in your home, you cannot do without Corporate Liability Insurance (CBR). To find out more, visit our business insurance page !
This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional advice. We make no representation and make no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information it contains. We cannot be held responsible for any losses that may arise from the use of this information.
After all, preventable accidents are one of the leading causes of injury in Canada, according to a 2015 cost of injury report by Parachute , a national charity. In Canada, every hour, 427 people suffer a preventable injury due to a fall, a road accident, a fire, poisoning, drowning or other. In addition, according to Workplace Safety & Prevention Services , in 2016, falls resulted in 11,495 lost-time injury claims in Ontario - equivalent to 31 workers injured per day.
Here, then, in light of these deplorable statistics, some tips to prevent falls on the premises of your business.
Pay attention to the water
Water is one of the main causes of falling. In some companies, there is no shortage of areas conducive to the accumulation of water; for example, in a grocery store, you can think of bathrooms, aisles of freezers, entrance halls, the fruit and vegetable department and that of flowers. Daily activities are enough to make the floor soaked (and therefore slippery). Here are some habits you can take to prevent incidents:
If possible, install non-slip flooring or mats in hazardous locations.
Ask an employee to regularly inspect areas prone to water accumulation - and to mop them up immediately.
Post “wet floor” posters as needed.
In winter, frost can cause a lot of worry. It is cold in Canada; we know it and we can't do anything about it. However, you can take action to protect your employees from ice fall by putting these tips into practice:
Regularly inspect the parking lot and accesses, and use deicing salt or another method to secure a path for your customers.
Constantly monitor the accumulation of water, slush or snow in the parking lot and access roads.
Bypass any downspouts that drain into your parking lot or onto your sidewalks to prevent ice buildup in high-traffic areas.
Make sure that all emergency exits and exterior stairs are not snow-covered or obstructed. This concerns in particular the aisles which lead to the assembly points fixed in case of emergency evacuation.
Make sure the paths are lit and clear
Adequately light the paths where pedestrians circulate, especially those outside where people circulate in the evening.
Make sure aisles, exits and floors are clean, free and dry.
Check that nothing obstructs traffic in aisles and footpaths: table legs, shelves, protruding portion of wall, etc.
Repair or replace any missing or unstable tiles or carpets.
Mark uneven surfaces that pose a risk of falling, and make the necessary repairs as soon as possible.
Arrange your merchandise securely
Do not stack your items in such a way that they are easy to hang, knock over or break.
Avoid placing heavy or fragile items high.
Make sure to adjust the height of your shelves so that the items are within the reach of a medium-sized person.
Perform regular rounds
Inspect and replace all carpets at regular intervals.
At least once per shift, an employee should check that nothing drips or is broken on shelves and displays.
Regularly inspect your parking lot and check for potholes, cracks, uneven surfaces, and annoying Debris Chutes. You should take immediate action if you notice a potential hazard and report it clearly to customers until the problem is resolved.
You should regularly check the condition of the steps and banisters on all of your stairs and make sure they are non-slip.
Try to schedule maintenance tasks after hours are closed or at low traffic times. Floor cleanliness is important, but freshly washed floors can be dangerous for your customers - even if you install a "wet floor" sign.
Be sure to keep records of all maintenance activities (for example, spreading sand or salt in the parking lot). These documents will be of great help in the event of a complaint, and will help your employees to follow the established procedures.
What if something goes wrong anyway?
The key is to have a formal intervention plan. Leave incident report forms on site for the claimant and witnesses to record the circumstances of the incident. It is also recommended to photograph the places where the person fell and the shoes they were wearing. Despite all your precautions, someone can still fall on your property. This is why it is important to have the right insurance policy to protect you. When a third party is injured in your home, you cannot do without Corporate Liability Insurance (CBR). To find out more, visit our business insurance page !
This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional advice. We make no representation and make no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information it contains. We cannot be held responsible for any losses that may arise from the use of this information.
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