What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents?
Slips, trips, and falls are the most common cause of injury in retail stores and are often due to slippery floors. Slippery floors are often caused by a combination of factors, which can include:- Uneven surfaces
- Poor lighting
- Using the wrong cleaning chemical
- Using too much cleaning chemical
- Pre-mixers not being calibrated properly
- Using dirty or greasy mops to clean floors
- Floor cleaning machines that are not working properly
What Is a Floor Audit?
A floor audit is a way that risk control experts evaluate your business’ safety protocols, identify potential tripping hazards, and ensure floor infrastructure is sound. A comprehensive floor safety audit will include:- Aisle/walkway inspections
- Outdoor sidewalks, parking lot and curbs
- Production areas
- Stairways and ramps
- Cleaning regimen
What Experts Look For During a Floor Audit
As experts tour your facility, they check for a number of things. This list is not all-inclusive.- Are the right safeguards in place (eg. handrails, clearly marked steps and curbs, etc.)?
- Is there adequate lighting in walkways?
- Are mats and runners intact or are there frayed edges or tears?
- Are there potholes in the parking lot or large cracks in the sidewalk?
- Are work areas sanitary?
- Do employees know the floor maintenance guidelines and how to properly handle equipment/chemicals?
- Is equipment stored properly so as not to block walkways?
- Are cleaning tools stocked and in good condition?
- Do employees have non-slip footwear?
