Some slip-and-falls occur because people behave inappropriately at businesses, but many slip-and-falls occur due to hazards at stores. Proper facility maintenance is the only sure way to protect visitors from the possibility of slipping and getting hurt while shopping.
Despite certain hazards having a clear association with preventable slip-and-falls, the workers at businesses may fail to address safety hazards in a timely manner. A lack of proper training, burnout caused by stressful work conditions and understaffing may contribute to workers failing to address obvious slip-and-fall hazards. For example, the three facility issues below have a strong association with slip and fall risk. Their presence at a store could constitute negligence.
Missing or poorly-maintained entrance rugs
Dark-colored, heavy rugs are a staple at most business entranceways. They help absorb rainwater or snow melt tracked in by visitors. They can also collect dirt and dust. A lack of rugs could lead to puddling and dirty floors that affect visitor attraction. Rugs that come loose or that are dirty and saturated can be dangerous to visitors as well.
Unattended to spills and leaks
Maybe there is a drip coming from the ceiling near the customer service counter due to a leak. The failure to consistently clean up the resulting puddle as it develops during rainstorms could lead to people getting hurt. Perhaps there is a refrigeration unit that has issues with the condenser, causing puddling on the floor nearby. Customers even sometimes cause spills by dropping items on the floor. When employees don’t promptly respond to spills, leaks and puddles, people can easily end up slipping and getting hurt as a result.
Obstacles in aisles
Leaving items on the ground in areas traveled by consumers is a dangerous practice at a retail establishment. A half-empty carton of unshelved cans abandoned by a worker could lead to someone tripping. So could a power cord used to supply electricity to a freestanding refrigeration unit. Trip-and-falls can be as problematic as slip-and-falls, and they are equally easy for businesses to prevent if they are proactive about keeping pathways within the business clear.
If a slip-and-fall incident occurs due to improper facility maintenance, the injury victim may have grounds to request compensation for any injury-related expenses they incur. Pursuing a premises liability claim after a slip-and-fall injury can potentially help someone cover medical expenses and lost wages. Those who understand that businesses are liable when negligence hurts patrons can assert themselves after getting hurt at a public location.