Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/668677
38 Oil Prophets This article is for illustrative purposes only and any recommendations regarding risk prevention should not be considered legal advice. Following the recommendations presented in this article may help reduce the risk of loss but are not guaranteed to do so. Qualified counsel or other expert advice should be sought regarding questions specific to your circumstances. © 2014 Federated Mutual Insurance Company. It's Our Business to Protect Yours® Drew Hilgenberg, Account Executive, ARMS Picture, if you will, the following scene: An elderly customer slips and falls inside your store near the beverage dispenser. The floor is wet because ice has been spilled and your employees haven't cleaned it up properly. The customer suffers a broken hip and requires hip replacement surgery, with a second surgery pending. Or, how about this one: A customer enters your store and trips over a bread rack that was left on the floor near the door. The customer suffers a ruptured disc, which requires corrective surgery and prolonged physical therapy, resulting in lost wages. Will slip and fall hazards trip you up? Unfortunately, both of these are true stories. In each case, medical bills have reached tens of thousands of dollars and a lawsuit is pending. And, in both cases, the injured customers filed claims against the store's insurance provider. The "perpetrator" in each of these cases—and hundreds more just like them—was a slip, trip, or fall hazard. These accidents never should have happened because, in both situations, the hazard could have been easily removed. What's a business owner to do? There is no one-size-fits-all approach to minimizing slip, trip, and fall exposures. Because each business has its own unique operations and physical features that could cause this type of accident, it's the business's responsibility to be aware of and reduce those risks. One effective way to do that is for all employees to be continually on the lookout for anything that could cause someone to slip or fall in and around your business. Here are some slip and fall hazards every business needs to be aware of: • Habitually slippery areas; icy sidewalks or parking lots • Food and beverage spills in vending areas • Wet floors • Floor mats that are worn, wrinkled, loose, or have curled edges • Poor lighting • Damaged or uneven floors, walkways, or stairs • Cracks or potholes in parking lot • Poor housekeeping Deal with these hazards before an accident happens. Diligence is a major contributor to providing a safer environment for customers and employees. Another true story—with a different ending As hard as you work to remove potential slip, trip, and fall hazards at your business, there is another risk to protect yourself against: fraud… A customer claims she slipped and fell due to an uneven, slippery surface in the convenience store parking lot. She also claims she lost her wedding ring as a result. Interestingly, the store clerk never saw the claimant outside of her vehicle—it was her son who came into the store to make a purchase while she sat in the car. An investigation uncovers that the claimant has made nearly 30 prior claims during the last few years, and is part of a slip and fall ring responsible for filing more than 100 claims totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. This time, however, she doesn't get away with it, and is arrested along with other members of the fraud ring. The claim is not paid. To help your insurance company determine whether fraud may be suspected, be sure to: • Document all accidents— customers' and employees' alike—no matter how small they may seem • Report all accidents promptly to your insurance company • Photograph the area and hazard immediately after the accident • Review any video that may have recorded the incident; preserve the recording • Complete an accident/injury report • Get names and numbers of witnesses INSURANCE ISSUES Keep Your Customers from Falling for You