Slips and falls are common occurrences that can lead to injury and even death, especially for older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports falls are the No. 1 cause of injury and death for those 65 and older. Each year a reported 29 million falls represent:
As a landlord, it’s imperative you maintain a hazard-free rental property to prevent tenant injuries. For a tenant to win a slip-and-fall lawsuit, negligence must be proven on the part of the property owner. This means the landlord was found to have done one of the following:
Personal injury cases can be expensive propositions, so it’s in a landlord’s best interest to keep their property safe and secure for tenants of all ages. These 12 tips will help you prevent slips and falls in and around your building.
These railings should be hefty enough for an adult to lean on for support as they move up or down stairs and across sidewalks, especially in wet weather conditions.
Add a nonslip coating or texture, like a broom finish or stamped concrete, to sidewalks, stairs, and hallways to help avoid slippery surfaces.
This not only includes snow removal in winter but also sweeping away wet leaves — a notorious slip hazard — and trimming bushes that could impede a person’s ability to walk.
Buckled or cracked flooring can easily cause people to trip and fall, so be aware of flooring issues and resolve them quickly. New carpet and flooring are best installed in the fall, when the weather is crisp and cool; heat and humidity can cause materials to swell and adhesives not to dry properly.
This repair is not only an aesthetic improvement — it will also provide a smoother, safer place for your tenants to walk outside.
If you’re doing landscaping, be sure to mark off any holes or other uneven spots so people can see them.
Keep caution tape or cones handy until the area can be cleaned.
When doing renovations, securely tape down wires so they can’t trip anyone.
Both places should be completely free and clear for people to walk, particularly in the case of an emergency.
Dark hallways and stairwells are one trip away from disaster, so make sure people can see where they’re going.
Even if you have a property manager on site, a tenant might notice a problem before they do. Make it easy for tenants to alert you to issues to be fixed by posting signs throughout the property with a phone number they can call or text.
Anything broken/in disrepair that leads to a fall is bad news for a landlord, particularly if you knew about it and didn’t act quickly. Make it a point to resolve all hazardous issues promptly to avoid injury.
Safe tenants are happy tenants. By doing everything you can to ensure your property is free of hazards, you can mitigate injury.
Source – MillionAcres