This year is the 30th anniversary of the National Safety Council’s Safety Month, which specifically focuses on preventable injuries. This year’s weekly themes include “Promoting Holistic Worker Health” (June 14-20) and Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls (June 21-30). This is particularly pertinent to those in the restaurant industry. Slips, trips and falls are the second-leading cause of employee injury nationally, with these types of injuries increasing by 41 percent since 1998. Additionally, slips, trips and falls are also a leading cause of customer injuries. Everyone knows to be careful during the winter months when there’s snow or ice on the ground. However, the element of surprise can make summer slip, trip and fall risks more hazardous than in winter. Ahead of National Safety Month in June, Society Insurance shares below how restaurants can lessen their risks of summer slips and falls as well as how to respond should one happen. Identifying and Controlling Risk The first step in controlling slips, trips and falls is figuring out if there’s a problem. A good place to start is by reviewing past loss history. Have there been issues with slips, trips and falls in the past? Was the slip, trip or fall caused by something in particular, such as a wet or uneven floor? Don’t just consider the interior of the property, either. While the absence of cold weather means there’s no ice or snow to slip and fall on, the remnants of winter may remain in the form of potholes or cracked…
