One of the most expensive things that need to be considered when it comes to starting your business other than the usual start up costs are the expenses for accidents, injuries and emergencies. These things could definitely be costly that is why it is advisable that you provide your crew and tenants with as much care as they need. Slips and falls are often preventable, and the responsibility lies with the employer to take every necessary precaution to protect workers.

The main causes of slips and falls listed in The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) include flooring, improper footwear, poor signage, and lack of training. To prevent slip/fall accidents, the responsibility lies with everyone. Employers, in particular, can protect their workers and their business by ensuring there is proper training and ample warning signs in more dangerous parts of the workplace.

The easiest and most effective way to prevent slip/fall accidents is to ensure proper and ample signage for workers and customers. Janitorial staff should have a number of wet floor signs, and should stress to people as they work the importance of taking care on wet floors. Often the public will ignore these signs, but the onus is on the employer to make sure they are there in even the most remote of situations that a fall could occur.

The kind of signs used to prevent slip/fall accidents vary by manufacturer and company need, but it is recommended that signs reach the knee and be large enough to cover most - if not all - of the affected area. The industry accepted color for hazard signs is yellow, since it's easily visible and proven effective.

For larger areas of hazard only barricades will do. This will prevent slip/fall accidents by blocking access entirely to the dangerous area. This can be effective for keeping guests out of a restroom being cleaned, for example, or a large section of floor that has just been mopped. Though they are underused and wrongly considered a business deterrent, barricades are important for protection and safety.

Safety cones: these are ideal for small spills, since they don't barricade but keep traffic away from the spill until it can be cleaned up; small and lightweight, these can be easily attached to a cleaning cart or folded up and carried on the belt.

Over-the spill pads: these square polypropylene pads can be easily carried and quickly accessed, and each sheet absorbs up to 16 ounces of liquid; spill pads take care of the mess and keep customers from slipping on it at the same time.

Floor signs: should be at least knee height and yellow in color.
It is therefore the responsibility of every employer to take steps to prevent slip/fall accidents from occurring in the workplace. Quick hazard removal and adequate hazard identification during cleaning and inclement weather are essential. Employers must ensure they not only have the correct signage, but a staff trained to use them in a timely and appropriate fashion.

For more: How to start a cleaning business