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The True Cost of Slip-and-Fall Accidents In The Workplace

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Hundred dollar billsSlip-and-fall accidents can place a serious financial burden on a company. When a worker falls and suffers an injury while on the job, the company is responsible for paying his or her medical bills along with lost wages through Workers’ Compensation. This alone can cost businesses a good chunk of cash, but this is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the true cost of slip-and-fall accidents in the workplace.

This week, we’re going to take a closer look at this problem and revealing some of the many ways accidents such as this impact a businesses’ finances.

Slip-and-Fall Statistics

To put the problem of slip-and-fall accidents into perspective, a 2007 published by the insurance company Liberty Mutual found that same-level falls (not elevated) were the second most common type of injury in the workplace, costing businesses an estimated $6.6 billion. This is a shocking statistic that should serve as a real eye-opener to companies dealing with slip-and-fall accidents.

The National Safety Council (NSC) also performed a study which suggests the annual costs of medical bills and Workers’ Compensation associated with slip-and-fall accidents in the workplace is roughly $70 billion annually.

How Slip-and-Fall Accidents Impact a Business:

  • Lowers overall morale in the workplace.
  • Leaves the company vulnerable to OSHA fines, lawsuits and other legal action.
  • Raises the cost of Workers’ Compensation.
  • Company must invest additional time, money and resources into finding a replacement for the injured worker.
  • Equipment is oftentimes broken or damaged as a result of slip-and-fall accidents.
  • Lowers productivity.
  • Forces company to perform renovations or modifications in an effort to reduce such accidents.

Preventing Slip-and-Fall Accidents

The first step towards preventing slip-and-fall accidents is to identify “high risk” areas within the workplace. This may include areas around forklifts where oil frequently leaks, building entrances, stairs, damaged floors, etc. With these areas properly identified, business owners can then work to fix the underlying problem.

The area where forklifts are stored, for instance, could likely benefit from the use of absorbent mats. If any oil happens to leak from one of the forklifts, the absorbent mat will soak it up rather than allowing it to spill on the floor. You could also use these mats around entrances where rainwater frequently develops.

What precautions do you take to prevent slip-and-fall accidents in the workplace?

How Rain and Bad Weather Can Result In Slip-And-Fall Accidents

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rain umbrella and puddleIn a previous blog post, we talked about some of the risk factors of slip-and-fall accidents in the workplace. Each year, thousands of employees are injured from slip-and-fall accidents. And while most of these are minor, resulting only in bruises, others are more severe and may lead to broken bones.

Whether you work in an office setting or industrial factory, you should take the necessary precautions to reduce the chance of slip-and-fall accidents. Unfortunately, many companies overlook the effect of rain and bad weather in the workplace. Here, we’re going to look at the direct link between weather and slip-and-fall accidents, while revealing steps companies can take to reduce the chance of accidents.

If your workplace features hardwood, laminate or concrete floors, even small amounts of water may create a serious hazard for slip-and-fall accidents. It only takes a quarter cup of water to saturate an area that’s 3-feet wide. The already slick floor surface is made even more dangerous when it’s wet, creating a serious danger for employees. A worker can lose their balance and fall to ground in a split second while walking on a slick surface.

Companies spend millions of dollars each year in direct and indirect costs associated with slip-and-fall accidents. These include obvious costs, such as medical bills and lost wages, along with more obscure costs like lawsuits, OSHA fines, reduced productivity, broken equipment, resources to train new employees, etc. Some companies assume that workplace accidents only cost them in the form of worker’s compensation, but this isn’t the case. As you can see, companies end up paying for accidents in several different ways, which is why it’s important to reduce the number of slip-and-fall accidents in your workplace.

Weather-Related Elements That Contribute To Slip-And-Fall Accidents:

  • Rain
  • Snow/sleet
  • Hail
  • Ice/frost
  • Wet leaves and debris

Note: don’t assume that your workplace is safe from weather-related slip-and-fall accidents just because it’s covered. Employees can easily track water and moisture into the workplace on their shoes and clothes.

How To Reduce The Chance of Weather-Related Slip-And-Fall Accidents

So, how can companies reduce the chance of weather-related slip-and-fall accidents in the workplace? For starters, it’s important to keep the parking lot and exterior clean and free of debris. This includes the removal of snow, ice and leaves.

Companies can also place absorbent mats in ‘problematic’ areas to help soak up some of the excess moisture that makes its way into the workplace. For example, in access points like main building entrances.

Lastly, stair treads are another great way to help prevent slip-and-fall accidents in high traffic areas like external stairwells.

Travis ZdrazilHave questions about slip-and-fall prevention products for your workplace? Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.