June is National Safety Month, and the National Safety Council (NSC) uses the event to highlight various safety aspects. One of the areas the NCS is emphasizing in 2022 is slip and fall prevention. While many people understand how common slip and fall accidents are, many also underestimate how severe these accidents can be. For example, the NSC claims that falls are the leading cause of death for older adults and that 6.8-million people were treated in emergency rooms due to falls in 2019.
The NSC notes that the vast majority of slip and fall accidents are avoidable with proper precautions. Whether you’re concerned about slips at home, at work, or as a business owner, there are many things that you can do to greatly reduce your chances of an injury. In this slip and fall prevention blog, the Quad Cities slip and fall accidents lawyers at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham share ways to keep you and your family safe.
Slip and Fall Prevention at Home
While many of us think of home as a safe and comfortable place, it can also be dangerous if you’re negligent. Taking measures to minimize the chances of a slip and fall accident at home is important for you and the members of your household. It’s also vital when you have company over; if a guest suffers a fall injury due to your negligence, you may be liable for damages.
To reduce the chances of anyone slipping and falling at your apartment or house, you should:
- Keep pathways and stairs clear
- Remove any clutter from the floor
- Make sure that power cables and extension cords are hidden away safely
- Arrange furniture to create flowing pathways
- Close all cabinets and drawers
- Make sure that all pathways are well lit
Although many of these measures are simple and only require a bit of time, they are also tremendously effective at preventing fall injuries. The Quad Cities slip and fall accidents lawyers at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham highly recommend taking a few minutes to make sure conditions are safe for your family and guests. Doing so dramatically reduces the chances of a fall injury and helps protect you from a premises liability lawsuit.
Slip and Fall Prevention For Business Owners and Managers
Whether you manage a company with thousands of employees or own a small business with fewer than 10 workers, it’s essential to maintain safe conditions. Naturally, you don’t want to see anyone get hurt. Beyond that, you do not want your company to get sued for a workplace accident because unsafe conditions led to a slip and fall accident.
Business owners and managers should be sure to:
- Check the workplace to make certain conditions are safe
- Ensure that cleaning equipment and supplies are available in case of any spills
- Make sure that employees understand fall hazards and how to avoid them
- Post signs when floors are being mopped
- Make sure that any warning signs meet OSHA standards
- Inspect any workplace equipment, such as a stepladder, that could lead to a fall
Slip and fall injuries at work are more common than many people think. The NSC claims that in 2020, 805 workers died in falls, and 211,640 were injured badly enough to require days off of work. By taking proper safety precautions and ensuring that your staff is aware of slip and fall hazards, you can help ensure that nobody suffers from a fall injury at your workplace.
Contact a Quad Cities Slip and Fall Accidents Attorney
The Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham team hopes that you follow the National Safety Month advice above to help lower your chances of a slip and fall injury at home or work. Unfortunately, there will be times when you slip due to the negligence or recklessness of another party. If you believe that the negligence of another party caused your fall injury, contact our Quad Cities slip and fall accidents lawyers immediately.
You can reach Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone (309) 794-1515 or through the Internet via LiveChat. Our personal injuries lawyers have successfully served clients in Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island for more than 50 years. Our staff has worked hard to win our clients the highest settlements possible while treating them with the compassion and respect they deserve. Give us a call today, and you’ll find out why Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham has become one of the most trusted names in Quad Cities personal injury law.