Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere–at work, at home, at a friend's house, at the shopping mall, or even at your place of worship. Slipping and falling can lead to serious and sometimes permanent injuries, especially for children and the elderly. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that slip trip and fall accidents account for 15% of all accidental deaths in the United States, which puts them in second place behind car accidents. The good news is that, in many cases, theperson or business who owns or manages the land that a person slips and falls on is legally responsible for preventing those kinds of accidents. If they fail to uphold this legal duty and someone gets hurt, they could expose themselves to liability.

Below, we'll take a look at some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents, how to prevent them, and the legal justification for holding landowners liable for injuries.

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

A few of the most common hazards that can cause slips and falls include:

• Surface conditions, including
  • Uneven surfaces with no warning signs
  • Recently mopped or waxed floors
  • Loose floorboards, rugs, or mats, especially on stairs
  • Potholes in parking lots
  • Spilled liquids that are not cleaned up
  • Splashed grease or oil that is not removed
  • Ice that is not salted
• Environmental conditions, including
  • Trash or debris on the floor
  • Bright light reflecting on a shiny floor that causes glare
  • Poor lighting that makes it difficult to see obstacles
  • Cords that a run across walkways
  • Open desk or cabinet drawers
  • Transitions from one type of surface to another, such as from carpet to wood
• Ladders and stairs, including:
  • No handrail present or not using a handrail
  • Rushing up and down or taking more than one step at a time
  • Failure to secure a ladder or have someone hold it
  • Using a chair or other piece of furniture instead of a ladder
• Certain occupations, including:
  • Workers in the construction industry
  • Housekeepers and other custodial staff
  • Chefs and other kitchen workers
  • Manual laborers
  • Factory workers

Prevention of Slip and Fall Accidents for Property Owners

Although slips and falls are very common and can be caused by almost any condition, there are a few ways to reduce the risk of a slip and fall accident.

Reduce wet or slippery surfaces

Reduce the risk of people slipping and falling on your property by: mopping up wet surfaces; keeping parking lots and sidewalks repaired; removing ice and snow; using adhesive stripping or anti-skid paint; using moisture-absorbing mats in entrance areas; displaying “wet floor” signs as needed; and cleaning up spills immediately.

Remove obstacles from aisles and walkways

Environmental factors that cause slips and falls can be significantly reduced by keeping all work areas and passageways clean and orderly, avoiding stringing cords and cables across hallways or walking areas, moving boxes and other obstacles out of heavily-trafficked areas, and making sure all employees close cabinet drawers.

Create and maintain proper lighting

Ensure that the premises are lit properly by keeping work areas bright and clean, keeping poorly lit areas clear of clutter and obstructions, keeping areas around light switches clear and accessible, and always turning on a light when entering a darkened room. 

Watch where you're going

It may sound silly to say, but the best way to prevent a painful and costly slip and fall accident while you're out running errands is to watch where you're going. There are so many things that can distract you: screaming kids, texting your spouse, drinking your Frappuccino, or answering one last email from your boss; do these things while you are stationary and eliminate a large chunk of the risk of slipping and falling.

Wearing proper shoes

Many slip and fall accidents are caused by wearing shoes that are inappropriate for a particular activity or a particular place. Eliminate this risk by wearing shoes that are appropriate for your surroundings and making sure that your shoelaces are tied at all times. If your the type of person to wear unsafe shoes like high heels, then try keeping a pair of flats in your car to change into.

Understand your surroundings

Right along with wearing the proper shoes, is understanding what areas are more likely to cause a fall. For example, a grocery store can be an extra dangerous place for slip and fall accidents. With all the freezers, wet items, and hard floors, one should be extra careful in these places.