Preventing Slips and Falls in Your Grocery Store

Posted on 13 May, 2021

Are you concerned about slippery surfaces and the risk of customers tripping, falling, and getting injured at your grocery store? Unfortunately, falls are not uncommon in grocery store settings due to the consistent presence of certain risk factors such as damp floors or poorly lit aisles. If your shop already has CT Grocery Store Insurance to mitigate legal risks, but you still want to help reduce slips and falls for the benefit of your employees and customers, here’s what you can do.

Stick To Well-Lit Areas and Focus on Improving Visibility and Cleanliness Conditions

Unfortunately, poor visibility can be one of the highest risk factors for falling while grocery shopping. To ensure customers and workers don’t fall, you should:

Repair poorly lit sections of the store or parking lot and advise patrons to stick to areas with good visibility
Install more overhead lights or street lamps in heavily trafficked areas
Put in markings for stairs or uneven surfaces that could result in trips or falls
Clean up areas that have excess clutter, unsecured merchandise displays, and poor stock organization or placement that could become a health hazard

Keep an Eye Out for Watery or Slick Conditions

Besides poor lighting and clutter, watery areas or slick conditions are some of the most significant risk factors that can lead to falls. When weather conditions are especially wet, make sure to take the following steps.

Keep an eye on, and clean up, areas that are more likely to accumulate water, such as bathroom areas, store entrances, freezer cases, and the floral section.
Lay out mats where you can, rather than simply leaving bare, slick tiles.
If you notice a slick area, notify an employee immediately for a quick clean up and put up a “Wet Floor” sign to avoid any accidents.
In the wintertime, take extra care when walking from the parking lot to the store entrance and advise patrons to watch out for any ice, puddles, or melted snow.

Ask for Safety Improvements and Have a First-Aid Backup Plan

In the end, when it comes to safety, you may need to have a first-aid backup plan ready just in case hazards pop up while you’re working to address different issues. For instance:

If you spot a serious safety hazard, take action to notify customers and eliminate the hazard immediately.
Examine your store for potential issues, such as potholes in the parking lot, slippery stairs, poorly cleaned floor mats, and more, and repair them right away.
In case a customer or employee slips and falls, make sure you have a basic first-aid kit on the premises at all times and maintain appropriate insurance coverage.

Even if your store currently carries extensive CT Grocery Store Insurance, customer slips, and falls can be a serious health hazard and legal issue. If you want to help prevent slips, trips, and falls at your store, be sure to take these actionable steps today!

About Byrnes Agency

At Byrnes Agency, we offer insurance solutions that can be tailored to meet your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for personal policies or commercial coverage, we have the right coverage for you. To learn more about our products, contact us today at one of our two locations.

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Dayville, CT 06241

United States

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