Preventing Slips & Falls on Wet Floors

There are many causes of wet floors, including mopping, melting snow, condensation, leaking pipes, and, of course, spills. Wet floors are a common problem that can damage the floor itself, but they can also be one of the biggest dangers in your workplace or home.

Wet floors are a major cause of slip and fall accidents. Falls can also cause serious or fatal injuries.

Some reports state that slips, trips, and falls account for up to 15% of accidental deaths. More than 540,000 slip-and-fall injuries require hospital care in North America each year. These incidents also account for more than 300,000 disabling injuries annually.

The risk to older adults is especially concerning. Serious falls can lead to severe injuries and long-term complications.

According to the 2006 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, slips, trips, and falls also create major financial costs. The annual direct cost of disabling occupational injuries from these incidents was estimated at more than $11 billion.

Because wet floors can be dangerous, as well as potentially damaging to the floor itself. They should be taken care of quickly.

The following are five things that can help you take care of wet floors and prevent costly injuries and accidents:

1. Safety cones and A-frame safety signs can help alert customers and employees to slip and fall hazards.  You should have these safety items on hand to keep people safe and to keep your business in compliance with ANSI and OSHA standards.
2. Chamois cloths and paper towels are absorbent and can be used to clean up small spills quickly, or to dry floors that are damp after mopping.
3. Mops and mop buckets are important to keep on hand for cleaning up larger spills and for general-purpose floor cleaning.
4. Wet and dry vacuums can make short work of puddles from broken pipes and large spills.

A small investment in safety signs and cleanup supplies will help you manage wet floors and prevent accidents.  Your customers and employees will thank you for it.