Mike Knott Insurance Consultant View Bio

Prevent Slip and Fall Injuries in Your Healthcare Facility

You and your healthcare employees put your patients first daily to care for their daily needs. Mitigating risk by taking the right risk management steps at your healthcare facility can help reduce claims while keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Below are some tips to help protect your employees, patients, and visitors which can help prevent slip and fall injuries in your healthcare facility:

  • Continually audit your facility to identify and fix trip hazards, including bed-call light cords, floor mattresses and bed cranks
  • Develop and institute a footwear policy including slip-resistant soles
  • Treat floors and stair treads with slip-resistant coatings and treatments
  • Assess special areas, such as dietary departments and hallways, for slip resistance
  • Encourage workers to clean up, cover, and/or report contaminants
  • Promptly clean up all spills and designate spill spotters to monitor wet floor hazards
  • Provide water-absorbent walk-off mats with beveled edges, paper towel holders, trash cans, and umbrella bags near entrances
  • Provide adequate lighting in walkways and areas such as steps, ramps, employee entrances, dumpsters, and docks
  • Use appropriate methods for cleaning and degreasing kitchen floors. Choose appropriate cleaning products for the conditions and always mix cleaning products according to the manufacturers’ directions
  • Control the humidity in service corridors and other known areas of moisture buildup
  • Evaluate entryways to the building, including parking lot surfaces, during inclement weather and address snow, debris, etc., as appropriate
  • Use mats in lobbies and entryways that are designed to absorb water and remove soil from footwear
  • Ensure stairs and handrails are in compliance with stairway design guidelines and recommendations
  • Patch, fill, or slope cracks, holes, and changes in level in walkways and parking areas
  • Provide sufficient space between walls, furniture, and other equipment in corridors and rooms
  • Encourage employees to use carts when moving charts, laptops, and equipment from room to room. Close laptops to keep a clear view

    • Keeping your staff and patients safe and healthy is important since slip and fall injuries in your healthcare facility can increase your experience modification, add claims and more. Instituting the proper safety processes can help. If you would like to discuss safety programs for healthcare facilities, talk with our safety and risk management team to learn how you may be able to reduce costs and claims.

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