5 Ways To Prevent Slips And Falls In The Office

Falls are the second most common reason for accidental death behind car crash. Taken together, about 95 million work days are lost every year to slips and falls. For any employee in a modern office a fall is risk of everything from lost productivity to personal injury. As a result, it must be responsibility of every employee to be proactive in preventing slips and falls, by themselves and others. Fortunately, preventing falls is not hard when some basic precautions are taken. Here are a few ways you can practically prevent slips and falls.

Keep Things Organized

The modern office floor can be covered in obstacles. Wires crisscross the floor. Many retrofitted offices have split levels requiring steps up or down. Even unpacked cardboard boxes and clutter can littler the place. All these things create a virtual obstacle course for you and other employees to navigate. You may think you know where the obstacles are, but it only takes one forgotten wire to cause an accident. As a result, it’s always a good idea to keep the place organized. Try to keep clutter off the floor and use step protectors to organize wires. Steps and other built in physical obstacles should be marked with hazard tape. Keeping the floors clean and clear will prove more efficient and safer then having everyone navigate a maze of hazards every day.

Cover The Floor

Even clear many floor surfaces become hazards. Slick or irregular surfaces can trip up the feet of even season employees. It’s important to look for and solve such problems in your office. Place mats or grip tape on slick flooring to yourself some traction. Meanwhile, use carpet tape to make sure rugs don’t crease or roll. When you’re not looking it doesn’t take much to trip you. Don’t injure yourself by something as simple as an un-regarded marble step or a rug with a bump in it.

Beware Of Wet Surfaces

People underestimate how wetness can get onto office floors. Whether the result of leased equipment failure, inclement weather, or a kitchen accident, an unseen wet spot can be dangerous. As a result, it’s important to avoid wetness when possible. Should you find a wet spot on a hallway floor, make a point of notifying maintenance immediately. If possible, make sure you and other employees know where warning signs are that can be put out. Also make sure your office has a dry off area for when it rains. More then any other environmental factor, wetness should be observed carefully.

Keep Lights Bright

The worst falls happen when you can’t see what’s in front of you. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to make sure the lights in your office are in working order. Notify maintenance when you see broken ones. As well make sure your office has a policy for how it lights the office, especially after hours. If the office is ever so dark that you can’t see the floor, the chances of a fall goes up noticeably.

Wear Proper Footwear

Only so much can be done to make the actual surrounding safe. You should take responsibility your own safety too with your choice of footwear. Shoes with slick soles or impractical heels should be avoided. Consider what your job is. If you’ll be on your feet and moving around the office all day, don’t wear something that impedes that. Especially in jobs for seniors, this is a matter of personal responsibility. You should always consider practicality in office clothes and shoes, not just style.

Many people shrug off the risk from slips and falls. They are as a result deeply underestimated as a cause of injury and death. However, taking a few common-sense steps around the office can make falls easily preventable. Keeping the office organized and avoiding wet patches or slick floor materials can improve matters. Keeping places well lit also helps. However, at the end of the day it is down to each employee to see to it their attire and actions are proactive in avoiding slips and falls. Every employee must work together to make every office a safer place.

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