Hastings & Hastings Guide to Accident Prevention (Part Four)

Welcome back to the Hastings & Hastings blog. Today’s post will be the last in our series guide to accident prevention. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t more to accident prevention! The key to staying safe, even in the safest of environments, is a diligent commitment to accident prevention. However, even when every safety precaution hasbeen taken, accidents can still occur. That is simply the nature of accidents.

If you have experienced an accident, it is important to explore your legal options. Even a minor injury can have a major impact on our way of life. At Hastings & Hastings, we have been fighting for the rights of accident victims for over 35 years. In that time, we have learned a lot about the nature of accidents and accident prevention.

In our last post, we detailed the differences between slips, trips, and falls. In today’s blog, we offer a few general safety tips for preventing these accidents while at home, at the workplace, or in public.

1. Maintain a neat environment, at home and work

This may come as a surprise, but cleanliness and safety go hand in hand. This applies to the home as well as the workplace. Companies should have cleanliness and safety programs in place to prevent the buildup of clutter. They also need to have a plan in place to handle spills should they occur. Spills need to be quickly cleaned, and the area of the spill need to be clearly marked to prevent someone from wandering into it.

2. Be mindful of lighting

Trips and falls are often linked to poor lighting. If you can’t see an obstruction, you just might end up tripping over it. Dim lighting is particularly dangerous in highly trafficked workplaces. Make sure all walkways are well illuminated. Install bright lights around stairs and ramps. Motion activated lights are a great way to ensure no one ever has to walk in the dark.

3. Proper footwear

Wearing proper footwear is especially important in an active workplace such as a restaurant or a construction site. Many employers make it a requirement that their employees wear slip-resistant shoes. It is also important to consider proper footwear when engaging in activities at home, such as working in the garage or the backyard.

4. Perform regular safety checks

With our last tip, we return to where we began. The most importance aspect of accident prevention is diligences. Do not take safety for granted. Perform regular safety checks assessing the status of each of the elements we have mentioned. Review the condition of your footwear, replaced burnt out lights, declutter your living space. These safety checks will only take a few moments, and they could make all the differences.