How to Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents

Anti-slip Floor Mats

There was a time when floor mats were thought to serve only as a protective layer for expensive flooring, like granite, tile, or hardwood. Today, that misconception is long gone. We live in a litigious society, and property owners learned long ago that commercial safety mats can go a long way in keeping entryways clean, dry, and safe.

For best results, property owners are to pair an outdoor mat with a second indoor mat to ensure maximum debris containment. Outside, a weatherproof “scraper mat” with tough ridges and grooves will dislodge big dirt and debris from shoes. Inside, a wider and longer carpet met will serve as a “wiper,” giving guests a large area to wipe dry while entering the building.

Slip and Fall Caution Signs

Some areas are more dangerous than others. For these areas, property owners might find it beneficial to proactively place caution signs by curbs, uneven floor transitions, abrupt drop-offs, and other disruptions in walking surface that might not be noticeable by first time guests.

By law, property owners are required to disclose information on known dangerous. Failure to do so might be construed as negligence, in which property owners could be liable for accidents that occur. Slip and fall caution signs help property owners avoid this common pitfall, helping to notify guests of known dangers and risks.

Exceptional Lighting

Guests are likely to slip, trip, or fall over 100% of the hazards they cannot see. Exceptional lighting is vital, especially at dusk. Exterior floodlights, entryway lights, and the overhead lighting throughout the facility are just 3 areas to be mindful.

Maintenance Personnel

Safety mats, caution signs, and exceptional lighting mean little if they are not properly maintained. Unlike the property owners and/or business management, maintenance personnel are on the frontlines where accidents are most likely to occur. They see debris accumulation, liquid spills, burned-out lights, and other serious hazards long before anyone else. Moreover, they have the tools and knowledge to fix the problem before it has the chance to cause someone serious harm.

Wet Umbrella Bag Stands

Aside form debris, liquid accumulation is one of the biggest causes of slip and fall accidents. Liquid accumulation is particularly hard to manage on rainy days. Rainstorms have a tendency to cause hazardous puddles and slippery conditions at entryways, even when floor mats, safety signs, lights, and vigilant maintenance personnel are present.

Wet umbrella bag stands give guests a place to store and secure their umbrella, significantly reducing the rainwater and mess they carry past the entryway. Wet umbrella bag stands are available in a variety of different sizes, finishes, and styles to complement most interior décor. When paired with mats and other safety products, umbrella bag stands are the final touch to an effective slip and fall prevention plan.

Sources:

(i) “Workplace Safety Index 2010.” Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety.

(ii) “New Techniques for Slip and Fall Management.” CNA. Download the PDF.

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By law, the manner in which the item is left behind determines the extent to which the property owner is responsible, or liable, for that item. The 3 main scenarios that occur often involve mislaid, lost, or abandoned property (discussed below).

As a property owner, there are a few ways in which liability can be managed so as to prevent financial loss, unhappy guests, and a tarnished public image. First, property owners must make sure all employees and facility managers understand how mislaid, lost, and abandoned umbrellas are different. Then, a strategy must be created to handle each scenario properly.

Was the Umbrella Mislaid or Lost?

Understanding the difference between mislaid and lost property is key. In his book titled Hospitality Law: Managing Legal Issues in the Hospitality Industry, Stephen Barth explains:

Mislaid property are items that are deliberately placed somewhere, but the owner forgets to retrieve it. If someone leaves an umbrella in a can by the entrance then fails to retrieve it, it is considered “mislaid.”

Lost property include items that are placed somewhere, and the owner forgets where he or she placed it.

Avoid Liability with Wet Umbrella Dispensers

To avoid the pitfalls of mislaid or lost property, it is a good idea for property owners to encourage guests to always maintain possession of their belongs. Wet umbrellas present a unique challenge, however, because they can leave a trail of water that forms dangerous puddles through entryways, in elevator lobbies, and down hallways.

Wet umbrella bag dispensers are an ideal solution, giving guests the ability to neatly wrap, stow, and maintain control of their wet umbrellas safely.

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The discussion of apartment safety often takes a back seat to discussions on commercial safety, perhaps because visitor turnover and increased exposure to weather makes commercial spaces ripe with dangers for guests. Nevertheless, developers and property owners are wise to consider tenant safety when conceptualizing, building, and managing residential living spaces.

Pictured left is a wet umbrella bag stand positioned outside the Four Ambassadors Hotel and Residences in Miami, Florida. Refer to this image as you read the rest of this article, and consider how these simple products speak volumes about a building’s commitment to providing superior comfort and safety for guests.

Why care about tenant safety?

It’s projected that about 5 to 6 million families will become renters by 2013, according to statistics gathered by the National Association of Realtors. Some point to the mortgage crisis of 2008 as a main cause for this increasing population of renters. The lackluster recovery of the U.S. economy might likewise be keeping people renting, as fewer Americans have the liquidity to afford purchasing a new home.

As the population of renters continues to climb, the concern for tenant safety will likewise become an increasingly important issue for property owners.

Why property owners should invest in umbrella wrappers

Last month, our editorial team ranked residential apartment complexes as 1 of the top 5 places that benefit from wet umbrella wrappers. From property owners from liability to enhancing tenant living experience, here are the top 3 reasons property owners should make the cost effective leap toward safer entryways with these unique products.

1. Prevent liability for slip and fall accidents.

By law, property owners have the legal responsibility to keep premises safe for visitors. They must also take reasonable action to repair unsafe conditions, and they must warn guests of known dangers.

A slick floor surface that becomes slippery and dangerous when wet can sometimes constitute a known danger. Additionally, failure to clean liquid accumulation may constitute negligence, which can ultimately make the property owner responsible for any injuries that result.

To prevent liability, property owners must employ management teams, maintenance personnel, and safety products to keep things safe for all guests. Wet umbrella wrappers are a proactive and cost-effective way to do so, particularly during days of inclement weather.

2. Protect tenants from the development of mold and mildew.

Umbrella wrappers do more than just prevent slip and fall accidents. In keeping precipitation under control, these products also prevent standing liquid accumulation and the formation of mold and mildew. This is particularly important to implement in clubhouses and other common areas for which proper cleaning and upkeep is the responsibility of the management team.

3. Improve the building’s image.

Safety is not the only benefit offered by wet umbrella wrappers. True, these units keep puddles from causing slips, falls, and hazardous mold formation. But they add value in another less obvious way: They build community image.

By providing automatic umbrella wrappers, property managers convey genuine concern for the well-being and comfort of their guests. Whether tenants, guests, or prospective renters, all can appreciate the kind and thoughtful gesture that these units display.

Learn More About Umbrella Wrappers for Residential Buildings

To learn more about umbrella stands, dispensers, and automatic wrappers for residential buildings, readers are invited to contact Umbrella Bagger Customer Services at 855-328-8100.

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Property Owner Liability: Understanding Your Duty

To understand why wet umbrellas present such a risk to businesses and property owners, it is helpful to first cover a few basics on property owner liability. A legal concept, property owner liability explores the extent to which the owner of a storefront, facility, or other piece of property is responsible, or liable, for the incidents that occur on the premises.

By law, all property owners have a responsibility to both keep their premises relatively safe while also warning guests of potential dangers. However, the degree to which commercial and even residential property owners are liable for others varies depending on whether the guest is a trespasser, licensee, or invitee.

Who Is Your Guest? Trespassers are those individuals who enter a piece of property without the permission of the owner. Licensees are deemed “informal” guests, and owners have a certain degree of responsibility to keep them safe. Invitees are individuals who are “invited” onto the premises, either expressly or under the assumption that they will do business.

In this way, customers, clients, and any other individual who is invited to do business is considered an invitee by law. As invitees, property owners owe these individuals the highest degree of care and might be deemed liable for the injuries they sustain while on the property.

Top 5 Facts About Property Owner Liability

To prevent claims of liability from crippling your business, take a moment to review these quick facts about property owner liability. Take a strong step towards effective liability prevention by reviewing these concepts with employees, especially those who manage customer relations or maintenance.

1. If you invite a guest on to your property to conduct business, you might be liable for the injuries they sustain.
2. Property owners have 4 specific responsibilities to commercial guests, or invitees: i) Regularly inspect the property; ii) Find dangerous conditions; iii) Warn invitees of the danger; iv) Repair all dangerous conditions, to the maximum extent possible.
3. Negligence can arise if you fail to perform the duties listed above.
4. Liability by Omission: Failure to act might trigger liability.
5. Employers are liable for the negligence of their employees.

How Do Wet Umbrellas Trigger Liability Claims?

After reviewing the basic concepts of property owner liability (sometimes also referred to as premises liability), it is easy to see how wet umbrellas might lead to accidents and costly liability claims for business owners. Here are the 3 most common ways that wet umbrellas might cause accidents, as explored in last week’s article, Why Are Wet Umbrellas Dangerous?

1. Entrance Mats Provide Limited Safety

Entrance mats are designed to dry shoes, contain moisture/debris, and improve overall safety and walking conditions. They are not designed to maintain the rainwater that wet umbrellas are known to track past entryways, however, especially when guests do the shake and splash.

2. Guest Shake Umbrellas, Splash Water Across Floor

In an attempt to dry their umbrellas, guests often open and close them repeatedly while just inside the entryway. And while this might be effective in drying the umbrella, it also sends streams of rainwater, snow and ice well beyond the entrance mats. This is particularly dangerous because the liquid accumulates into puddles in areas that guests and maintenance staffs might not expect. The longer the puddles linger, the larger and more dangerous they become.

3. Slips and Falls Cost Billions

According to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, slip and fall accidents cost American businesses an estimated $13 billion in workers compensation and other costs. Though the study focused primarily on employee-related workplace injuries, it nevertheless illustrates that slip and fall accidents are common, costly, and a priority when it comes to liability prevention.

Limit Your Liability with Effective Safety Products

To learn more about our state of the art umbrella bag dispensers, visit our Automatic Wet Umbrella Wrappers online store. Readers are also invited to contact customer service at 855-328-8100.

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