Slips, trips, and falls at work can be disastrous for workers and their employers. Injured employees often must take days or weeks off work, leaving employers scrambling to find backup during their busiest hours. Hurt employees can also file workers’ compensation claims, and if they do, employers can expect their insurance premiums to increase.

Want to keep your workers safe and insurance premiums low? Below, a slip-and-fall lawyer in Charlotte explains how to prevent slips, trips, and falls in the workplace.

Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention Strategies

Falls at work are common, but that doesn’t mean they’re inevitable. Most falls are preventable if you follow these workplace safety tips for avoiding falls.

Keep the Floors Clean

It may go without saying, but if you spot a spill on the floor, don’t let it linger. If you can’t clean a spill immediately, warn customers and employees about the mess. It’s also smart to place warning signs around the spill, especially if it’s a clear liquid that’s hard to see.

Additionally, be on the lookout for tripping hazards, such as loose cables and raised carpeting. Correcting these hazards is the key to preventing trips and falls at work.

Encourage Employees To Wear Proper Shoes

Ballet-style shoes and flip-flops may be fashionable, but they have no place in the workroom. Proper non-slip shoes are a must, especially for those who work in restaurants, bars, and factories. In such places, rarely a day goes by without at least one spill.

Some employers provide a stipend for employees to buy non-slip shoes. You may not want the added expense, but it’s cheaper than increased insurance premiums due to a workers’ compensation claim.

Hang Signage Where Necessary

Keep temporary signs on hand to warn workers of spills if you can’t clean the mess immediately. For unavoidable hazards, hang permanent signage to remind employees to watch their step.

Ensure Good Lighting

If you’re wondering how to prevent slips, trips, and falls in the workplace, don’t forget about lighting. Place bright lighting in stairwells, near doors, and around loading bays. If a bulb burns out, replace it as soon as you can.

Place Non-Slip Mats on Floors

Non-slip mats have adhesive surfaces that provide much-needed traction in messy work environments. Place adhesive mats in front of entrances and exits, in kitchens, behind bar counters, and in front of manufacturing assembly lines.

Purchasing individual non-slip mats can be cost prohibitive if you have a large area to cover. You may want to consider installing permanent non-slip flooring instead.

Teach Situational Awareness

Many workplace falls happen because employees simply don’t pay attention. They shuffle through doors wearing headphones or looking at their phones, oblivious to spills lurking beneath their feet.

To nip such behavior in the bud, offer situational awareness training to workers. Teach employees the following workplace slip prevention measures:

  • Identify spills and promptly clean them or inform a manager of the mess.
  • Take slow, steady steps in spill-prone areas.
  • Pay closer attention to potential hazards at night and during bad weather.
  • Watch out for signage indicating spills and hazards.

Develop Programs for Preventing Falls and Trips at Work

If your company doesn’t yet have a program for preventing and addressing falls, it’s time to make one. When developing your workplace safety program, consider:

  • Common hazards in your workplace, such as ladders, scaffolding, and construction equipment
  • Inspection plans to identify hazards
  • OSHA regulations that apply to your workplace
  • Potential dangerous weather events in your area, such as hurricanes and tornadoes
  • First aid training for employees
  • Communication methods for reporting hazards to managers

Use a Workplace Safety Management Platform

Need help managing your fall prevention efforts? You might want to consider a workplace safety management platform. These platforms include ready-made templates and checklists for fall mitigation. Many also have communication tools that allow you to share findings with managers and stakeholders. They save all data to the cloud, so you won’t have to worry about losing an important report or checklist.

Learn More About Preventing Accidents From Slips, Trips, and Falls

Learning how to prevent slips, trips, and falls in the workplace is well worth the effort to keep your valued employees safe and sound. Plus, by minimizing hazards to prevent workplace falls, you’ll enjoy lower workers’ compensation premiums.

If you’ve fallen at work and workers’ compensation has denied your claim, reach out to Yale Haymond Law PLLC. After a slip-and-fall accident, our attorneys can help gather proof of your injuries and fight claim denials for workers’ compensation benefits. Browse our blog to know more about average slip and fall settlements in Charlotte, NC.

Call Yale Haymond Law PLLC at (704) 800-HELP for a consultation.