Five Ways to Prevent Customer Injury and Property Damage at Your Business

If you run a business and want to avoid liability lawsuits, taking steps to keep your customers safe is vital. You can face legal trouble if a customer gets hurt on your property and if the court decides you are at fault for the incident. You also want to protect the people on your property because it's the right thing to do, and you could help someone avoid a serious problem in their life. Follow these steps to make your business that much safer.

Clean Spills Right Away

Across almost all industries, slip-and-fall accidents are the most common. Avoid them by cleaning up spills as soon as they occur. Since you can't be everywhere at once, train your staff to stop what they are doing and address spills as soon as they happen. Place wet-floor signs in the area to alert people to the danger, and you can even post staff members in the area until the spill dries. These steps go along way when your goal is to prevent people from getting injured on your property.

Inspect Your Property Daily

Safety issues can pop up when you least expect them, so always be alert for any issues that might be present. Stay safe by performing a daily inspection of your property before you open your doors to the public. During your inspection, make sure chemicals and cleaning supplies are secured in a locked closet so that customers can't access them. Look for any tripping hazards in the parts of your store to which customers have access. If you have outlets in public areas, use safety plugs to prevent injuries from taking place.

Use Warning Signs

In addition to addressing safety issues as soon as they appear, use warning signs to let your customers know about any possible dangers. If you have closets that contain harmful chemicals, post a sign on the door so that customers know to stay out. In the winter, post signs in the parking lot that warn customers of ice that could build up on the pavement and sidewalk. Post your warning signs at eye level to ensure everyone sees them before an incident occurs.

Keep the background of your customers in mind when posting warning signs so that everyone understands the possible danger. For example, consider posting signs in multiple languages. The signs you post around your business could prevent an injury and protect your business from legal action.

Lock Restricted Areas

A lot of businesses keep doors to closets and employee areas unlocked to save time. They don't want to give each employee a key or to have a supervisor open the door each time an employee needs to get inside. But posting warning signs is not always enough if you want to safeguard yourself and others. Lock all doors that lead to areas your customers should not go, and your property will be that much safer as a result. The cost of printing key copies for your employees is nothing compared to the cost of a lawsuit.

Keep Your Property Clean and Free From Clutter

Keeping your property clean and free from clutter is another excellent step in the right direction. During work hours, it's easy for boxes, supplies and other items to build up around your property and get in the way.

You might not think this problem is a big deal at first, but they could hide hidden safety issues of which you are not aware. Clutter could contain nails, chemicals or present a tripping hazard to your customers. Also, taking care of clutter right away is much easier than trying to address it after it has time to build up.

Final Thoughts

Safety issues can show up when you least expect them and cause a range of problems. Many people think a few safety problems are not a big deal, and that perspective makes sense at the surface. You must remember that ignoring small issues lets them build up and progress over time, and the odds of an incident occurring go up with time if the threat remains unaddressed. Follow the tips in this guide to reduce your odds of a customer getting hurt on your property. A little effort goes a long way when it comes to keeping injuries and health issues at bay, and you will be glad you did.

To speak with an Orlando personal injury attorney or motorcycle accident attorney, please call (407) 803-2139 or email info@whenyouneedus.com