Comprehensive Guide to Preventing Slip and Fall Accidents in the Workplace

Posted in: Slip & Fall, Work Injuries by Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers

Introduction

Slips and falls occur often in the workplace. These types of incidents frequently lead to serious injuries and, in severe cases, death. According to the National Safety Council, 724 workers died from a slip and fall injury in 2013.

It is important to understand that there are a variety of ways in which you can help with slip and fall prevention in the workplace to ensure your safety and the safety of your coworkers.

Our Atlanta work injury lawyers at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers thoroughly understand how difficult the aftermath of a slip and fall injury can be. That’s why our compassionate team is here to investigate your case, file your claim, and help you receive the justice you deserve.

Our team offers free consultations, so schedule yours right away at (404) 939-9470 or by completing our online contact form.

Table of Contents

Common Causes of Slips and Falls in the Office

As many as 67% of falls occur on the same level, while 33% are falls from a higher level, according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOCH). In order to best prevent slips and falls while at work, it is important to understand what causes them in the first place.

Some common causes of slips include:

Wet surfaces, such as spills
Weather hazards
Unanchored rugs and mats
Flooring that does not have traction

Additionally, some common causes of trips are:

Bad lighting
Clutter in your walkway
Cords
Open drawers
Blocked view
Uneven surfaces, such as steps or thresholds

Preventing Slips and Falls at Work

In addition to laying out the numerous causes and hazards of slips, trips, and falls, the CCOCH also put together various tips that can help you and your coworkers prevent slips and falls at work. It is important to follow the below tips to the best of your ability to ensure your safety and the safety of others in the workplace.

To prevent slips, you should:

Clean up all spills as soon as possible. If you can’t, make sure to put out a “wet floor” sign to warn your coworkers.
Advise your coworkers to wear shoes that fit properly.
Ensure all cables and cords in a walking area are fully covered or clearly marked.
Get rid of burnt light bulbs and put in fresh ones as soon as possible.
Clear all walkways of debris and any clutter.
Suggest installing rough floor mats.

To prevent falls, you should:

Stay attentive to your surroundings and where you are walking at all times.
Walk at a proper pace for the surface you are on.
Point your feet slightly outward while you walk.
Use the handrails when they are available on stairs, etc.
Make wide turns.

It is important to understand that if you or a loved one suffer a slip and fall in the workplace due to the fault of someone else, you have legal rights, and it is in your best interest to call an Atlanta work injury attorney at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers right away.

Conditions Leading to Slip and Fall Accidents

A slip and fall accident typically occurs as the result of dangerous conditions on property that you’re visiting as a guest. For instance, there may be clear liquid on the floor, unstable steps on a stairwell, or broken concrete outside the store entrance. You might be injured at a business, public property, or private home. If you’re injured at a residence, the landlord or owner of the property may also be held liable for any injuries you suffered as a result of their negligence.

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Responsibility of Slip and Fall Accident Prevention

If you are injured after slipping and falling on someone else’s property, the owner or property manager may be legally responsible for your injuries. Property owners have a duty to make their properties safe for guests. Part of this duty includes discovering and eliminating any dangerous conditions. A property owner or manager can be held liable for a slip and fall if they reasonably should have known the dangerous condition existed, if they actually knew the hazardous condition existed, or if they created the dangerous condition themselves. Additionally, if an employee working on the property causes a slip and fall accident, such as by not mopping the floor, the owner or manager may be held liable for their employee’s actions.

Would a Reasonable Person Have Prevented Your Slip and Fall?

An owner or property manager can be held responsible for your slip and fall injury if they should have known about the existence of the dangerous condition that caused your injuries. The standard is whether a reasonable individual in the same situation would have known of its existence. In general, an owner or employee should reasonably have known about dangerous conditions that existed for an extended period.

Did the Owner Know About the Conditions Causing the Slip and Fall?

A property owner is also responsible for a slip and fall if they actually knew of dangerous conditions on their property and did nothing to fix them. Did the owner or employees walk by the rusty stairwell every day without ordering repairs? Did they fail to post warning signs, or otherwise notify you about the possible dangers? If so, they have not fulfilled their duty of care, and they are responsible for any injuries you incurred as a result of the fall.

Did the Owner Cause or Create Dangerous Conditions?

Property owners have a responsibility to prevent unsafe conditions that arise through their own actions as well. For example, imagine that an employee spills their coffee and doesn’t clean it up. If someone slips on the coffee spill and falls, the owner of the property could be held responsible for any injuries resulting from that fall.

Call a Skilled Atlanta Workplace Sleep And Fall Injury Lawyer

Slip and falls lead to severe injuries and, in the worst cases, death. That’s why it is important to have an experienced lawyer fighting for you every step of the way.
At Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers, our Atlanta work injury lawyers know the difficulty you and your loved ones endure after an accident and want to help. A knowledgeable slip and fall lawyer can help you develop a comprehensive strategy to give you the best chance of overcoming those obstacles. Our team can stand by your side through each step of the legal process and aggressively negotiate to help you achieve your best outcome.

For a free consultation, contact us at (404) 939-9470 or through our online contact form.