Approximately 20 percent of all workplace injuries are caused by slips, trips, and falls. For employers, this often results in workers missing about 11 days of work, costing on average of $40,000 per incident.

In some facilities, such as restaurants, these numbers can be even higher. This is because in a busy restaurant kitchen, safety is sometimes overlooked in favor of speed and customer satisfaction.

“But there are steps managers can take to keep building users safe and prevent or at least minimize slip and fall accidents,” said Matt Morrison, Communications Manager for Kaivac, developers of the OmniFlex Crossover Cleaning system.

Morrison suggests:

· Conducting a safety audit.Slips, trips, and falls tend to occur repeatedly in the same locations; document where these accidents occur so that these areas can receive extra attention to improve safety.

· Use and change warning signs.Safety cones, floor signs, and caution signs should be placed in areas where accidents frequently occur. And signage should be changed from time to time in order to catch workers’ attention.

· Marking hazardous walkways.Taking signage a step further, managers should use highly visible warning tape to mark uneven, possibly dangerous, or slippery floors. Use reflective or photo luminescent warning tape in dark areas.

· Maintaining proper floor care.Many accidents occur because floors are not cleaned properly, often because grease, oil, and soils have been mopped into the floors and grout.

“And keep reminding building users to ‘think safety,’” added Morrison. “Speed, satisfying customers, and meeting deadlines are important, but worker safety should always be at the top of the list.”

For more information on Kaivac, visitwww.kaivac.com.