Rainwater, snow, and other debris accumulation is most dangerous when it occurs in unlikely places for 1 main reason: It’s hard to spot. For maintenance personnel, accumulation that occurs beyond floor mats or along interior corridors might not be recognized during normal rounds. And for guests, such accumulation can be unexpected and, in some cases, very difficult to see.

Slipper Floors Cost Business Owners Billions

According to the Liberty Mutual Research Institute, slip and fall accidents cost American businesses an estimated $13 billion in total costs. Among those categories of accidents are overexertion, fall on same level, bodily reaction, fall to lower level, and struck by object (such as moving machinery or a dropped tool). The costs illustrated in the infographic above were originally published in the Institute’s Workplace Safety Index for 2010.

Most alarmingly, however, is a figure that is not illustrated above: The cost of slip and fall accidents has actually increased between the years of 1998 and 2008, as reported by Liberty Mutual. Also important to note is that costs for the other top 10 categories of at-work injury all decreased over the same time period.

These numbers demonstrate a simple truth: Slip and fall accidents remain a problem for American business owners. Be it ineffective safety products, lack of proper cleaning protocol, unpredictable weather, or some combination of each of these variables, slip and fall accidents are a costly part of doing business that is preventable.

How to Eliminate Slippery Floor Surfaces

The best way to prevent accidents due to rainy day weather is to take a 3-pronged approach to rainwater accumulation. This includes:

1. Anticipate wet shoes.

Rainy days inevitably cause visitors’ shoes to become wet and dirty with debris. To prevent slips and falls, use indoor and outdoor commercial floor mats to aggressively clean debris and wetness from visitors’ shoes.

2. Remember: Wet coats track water past mats.

Shoes are not the only thing that needs tending to, however. Wet coats can easily track water well beyond floor mats, which can cause dangerous accumulation in hard-to-see places. To combat this problem, use coat racks and “coat checks” to encourage guests to leave wet coats at the entryway.

3. Encourage guests to wrap and stow wet umbrellas.

Like raincoats, wet umbrellas track water well beyond the safe and absorbent surfaces of floor mats. Wet umbrellas pose a greater problem than wet coats, however, because guests shake them dry at the entryway, which showers slick floor surfaces with rainwater, snow, and other debris. Shop wet umbrella bag dispensers to minimize this risk, and present guests with an easy way to wrap-and-stow wet umbrellas upon entering the facility.

Shop Automatic Wet Umbrella Wrappers

Visit Umbrella Bagger for additional information on wet umbrella bag dispensers, disposable bags, and other safety products. For order information and assistance, call toll free 1-855-328-8100.

Share This Free Infographic

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With danger comes opportunity, however, as fall months and the holiday shopping season drive large crowds, sales, and high revenues. To make the most out of this profitable opportunity, property owners are encouraged to get proactive in accident prevention. In addition to hiring maintenance personnel and reviewing proper cleaning protocol, property owners are wise to evaluate the premises and think of cost effective ways to invest in safety products that will keep heavily trafficked areas clean, dry, and safe.

Mats, Stanchions, Umbrella Wrappers, & More

1. Outdoor Rubber Matting

Safety mats made of 100% commercial-grade rubber Nitrile make superb outdoor entrance mats. With deep surface grooves, these mats aggressively “squeegee” shoes clean of both dirt and moisture.

2. Indoor Walk-Off Mats

Just inside entryways, carpet surfaced “walk off mats” are an ideal supplement to outdoor mats. Not only do these heavy duty mats deliver a high degree of traction on slick entryway floors, they also provide a second line of defense against incoming dirt, moisture, and bacteria. After crossing both outdoor mats and indoor walk-off mats, industry experts estimate that up to 60% of incoming debris can be contained and prevented from entering the rest of the facility.

3. Recessed Grill Systems

Some facilities experience such a high degree of visitor inflow and outflow that special solutions are needed. For these facilities, recessed grill systems provide superior cleaning and containment of incoming debris.

4. Crowd Control Systems

Beyond the entryway, property owners must make an effort to control crowds, keep products accessible, and provide service in an efficient manner. Crowd control systems can help, giving managers the ability to assemble custom line queues to organize customers according to their needs. Moreover, effective crowd management can significantly improve the rate at which customers are serviced, which ultimately enhances both revenue and customer experience.

5. Umbrella Bag Dispensers

Both rain and snow present a serious problem for property owners, particularly when guests rush throw entryways with wet or snow covered umbrellas. On days of inclement weather, wet umbrellas track water well beyond the absorbent surfaces of entrance mats, causing puddles and slick spots in hard-to-see areas. Wet umbrella bag dispensers provide a highly effective solution, enabling guests to wrap their umbrellas upon entering the building.

Shop Automatic Wet Umbrella Wrappers

Visit Umbrella Bagger for additional information on wet umbrella bag dispensers, disposable bags, and other safety products. For order information and assistance, call toll free 1-855-328-8100.

The post Have a Slip-Free-Fall with These Safety Products appeared first on Umbrella Bagger Blog.