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Under the Occupier’s Liability Act, property owners must maintain their premises and keep them free of hazards. If they can’t fix a hazard immediately, they must warn visitors and employees. To help you identify common causes of slip and fall accidents and discover effective remedies to prevent them, we’ve compiled useful tips and suggestions.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Inadequate maintenance occurs when property owners neglect their responsibilities, leading to unsafe conditions. This can include failing to clear snow or ice from walkways, neglecting to salt slippery surfaces, or not addressing water damage caused by issues like burst pipes, overflowed toilets, or leaky roofs. These hazards can create serious risks for visitors and employees.
- Uneven Surfaces: Exposed potholes, cracked sidewalks, uneven flooring, or loose mats can cause trips and falls.
- Automatic Door(s): Automatic doors that close too quickly can create serious safety risks for individuals entering or exiting a building.
- Cluttered Walkways: Obstructions in pathways, such as debris, equipment, or furniture, can lead to accidents.
- Electrical Rooms used for Storage: Storing items in electrical rooms can create tripping hazards, obstructing safe access to crucial equipment and increasing the risk of accidents.
- Inadequate Handrails: Missing or unstable handrails on stairs can increase the risk of falls.
- Flooring: Failing to replace slippery floors with non-skid floors or frayed or to repair bulging carpets causing trips.
- Inadequate Lighting: Poor lighting can hide potential hazards, making it difficult for individuals to navigate safely.
“As a business owner, you’re responsible for keeping your property and areas such as stairs, walkways, driveways and parking lots reasonably safe for people who use them,” Insurance Bureau of Canada.
Tips to Avoid Slip and Fall Accidents
- Hire a competent snow removal contractor.
- Always post warning signs during cleanings or repairs.
- Repair any hazards promptly.
- Always use non-slip entrance mats.
- Ensure there is adequate lighting
Action Steps
Depending on your property, these remedies may vary in helpfulness. But the most important remedy is being aware of your property and the possible hazards that could arise and knowing exactly how to handle them. To protect your commercial building, seek advice from a broker and ask about Unica’s Commercial Building Owners Connection™.
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