19 Jun Keeping Your Retail Space Safe for National Safety Month

June is officially National Safety Month. Businesses all over the nation will be participating in activities designed to raise safety awareness and, if you want to make a difference in people's lives, you can make your retail establishment safer and protect yourself from some types of lawsuits that commonly arise when retail spaces aren't kept safe for customers. Here are some things to watch for.

Trip Hazards

Trip hazards on your floor present one of the most significant threats to your customers. They include bunched up rugs in entryways, extension cords that aren't fastened down and items that make the aisles slippery or that obstruct them. Be sure to clean these up as soon as possible to keep everyone safe.

Slip and Fall

Slip and fall accidents involve surfaces that compromise traction. These include tile floors that have slippery substances spilled on them, floors that have just been mopped and floors that get moisture build up on them from weather conditions. Be sure you keep alert for these problems. People end up suing over injuries that they sustain in slip and fall disasters all the time. The reason they do so is that they are often severely injured.

Climbing

Be sure you flag any hazard that might encourage your customers to climb. For instance, items that are stacked on high shelves are sometimes seen as invitations to climb up and grab them, particularly by younger people who underestimate the hazard involved. Any such items should be flagged with a sign that indicates that customers need to ask for assistance to reach those items.

Layout

Make sure your aisles are roomy and that there aren't boxes, palates and other debris on the floor. Remember that a piece of cardboard on a tile floor is very slippery and that it can send someone tumbling to the floor in a second. It might not be a big deal of that person is young and strong but, if they are old or very frail, they may end up injured or worse.

National Safety Month is a chance to review your store's safety policies and to see if you measure up to standards. Remember that these policies also protect your employees. Employers get sued in some instances where employees are hurt simply because their employer had negligent safety policies and didn't watch out for the safety and health of the people who work for them.