What Environmental Condition Increases Slipping Hazards?

It is a question we hear often: What Environmental Condition Increases Slipping Hazards? The reality is that wet floors, icy sidewalks, and other uneven surfaces make up a large percentage of the risk-inducing slippery floors that are caused by environmental conditions. In fact, they are the most important causes of slipping accidents. At Parnall Law, we’ve seen how these hazards can turn a simple walk into a life-changing accident.

Main Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

What are the leading factors in slip and fall incidents? Although the major cause is due to environmental conditions, some causes could be just as devastating. Examples are poor lighting, cluttered walkways, or worn-out flooring.

Added to this are improper footwear and distractions, which greatly heighten the occurrence of falls in high-traffic areas, such as shopping malls or workplaces. Property owners and employers alike are supposed to ensure that environments are safe; however, negligence is a common factor in many slip-and-fall cases. The common factors of negligence include failure to post warning signs around wet floors, leaving loose rugs unattended, and not repairing broken handrails.

Other risks in parks and sidewalks are the more typical hazards in public places, such as fallen branches and uneven concrete. The danger from such potential hazards is greater if one is either elderly or has a mobile disability that itself puts them in greater danger of falling. With so many variables, it is understanding these that empowers us to better advocate for safer environments everywhere in New Mexico.

Do Environmental Conditions Increase Slipping Hazards?

Yes, the environmental conditions do contribute to the chances of an individual being more prone to trips and falls. Traction is easily lost on wet, cold, or icy surfaces. OSHA reports that the main reason falls take place and injuries occur is due to bad road conditions. Also, it could be very dangerous where rainstorms or freezing temperatures overnight add a special challenge. Rain might leave sidewalks slippery, while patches of ice on the shaded pathways can be truly hidden and cause serious accidents.

Other very common culprits include mud and loose gravel, especially in rural areas. These conditions often go unaddressed by property owners, despite their legal obligation to ensure safe passage on their premises.

Indoor settings are not an exception, either. Spills in grocery stores, newly mopped floors, or leaks emanating from faulty plumbing turn surfaces into death traps. The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health adds that places such as restaurants and health facilities put people more in danger due to the many incidents involving wet or greasy surfaces that are expected to be found therein. Floors in such environments are usually subjected to massive numbers of jostling feet, thus increasing wear and tear and hence diminishing safety further.

Tips to Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents

How do we minimize the risk of slipping hazards? Prevention begins with awareness and proactive steps. Here are practical tips to minimize risks:

• Dry, clean surfaces: Spills, leaks, and clutter are all easily handled through a proper cleaning schedule and proper training of personnel in spotting and responding to hazards immediately. Outdoor areas must be properly drained so that puddles and spots where water might gather and freeze cannot form in the winter. The owner can install floor drains in residential or commercial areas that are giving him a headache. Leaves, dirt, and other trash should be regularly swept from pathways, especially after storms or days with heavy winds, to avoid unexpected slips.
• Non-slip mats and flooring: Lay non-slip mats in every entrance, bathroom, and kitchen area that may be subjected to water. For heavy-traffic areas, use commercial mats with beveled edges to reduce tripping. For businesses, especially restaurants, warehouses, or other medical facilities, textured flooring provides the best traction. This prevents slipping on wet floors. Always replace worn-out mats to ensure their effectiveness.
• Improve the lighting: Even good surfaces can be hazardous if there is poor lighting. Use bright, energy-efficient LED lighting in indoor and outdoor areas. The motion-activated lights are very convenient for pathways, garages, or basements outside where the visibility changes throughout the day. Keep the fixtures well-maintained to avoid shadows or dark spots that obscure obstacles or uneven surfaces.
• Encourage appropriate footwear: Educate workers and residents to wear anti-slip soled shoes at all times when the floor or ground is wet or icy. Provide subsidized safety footwear programs for employees where work conditions warrant it or require anti-slip shoes for specific areas such as kitchens, warehouses, and construction zones. Provide information about shoe grip ratings to facilitate better selection.
• Monitor weather conditions: Utilize weather forecasts to predict adverse weather conditions, such as rain or snow, and take necessary precautions well in advance. Use ice and salt on roads, clear snow in a timely manner, and use road markings and wet signs when it rains to reduce accidents.
• Inspect regularly: Develop a routine inspection checklist of items, including handrails, stairs, floor surfaces, and any area that is highly utilized. Record your findings and take action to eliminate hazards such as loose tiles, broken pavement, and inoperable lighting. For businesses, this means using safety audits to prioritize repairs and prove that every effort is being made to maintain a safe environment.
• Employee/resident training: This may be accomplished in the workplace by clear reporting procedures for quick action and in residential settings through regular newsletters or community meetings regarding common risks and how they might be prevented. By creating a safety culture, you are engaging all in the process of sustaining a hazard-free environment.

At Parnall Law, we appreciate the need to walk a slip-and-fall victim through the intricacies of their case. Our staff is well-versed in the severe ramifications that can occur from such an incident and will do our best to help in any way we can.

Need Legal Help After a Slip and Fall Accident?

Don’t wait to get the assistance you deserve. At Parnall Law, we specialize in representing New Mexico residents injured in slip and fall accidents. We’re here to help, call us now at (505) 268-6500.