How to help control your insurance costs by reducing slip and fall accidents.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of insurance claims from people who slip, trip and
fall. The amounts that the insurance companies must pay to settle these claims have also increased
significantly. As a result, liability insurance premiums continue to increase.
We would like to ask for your help in trying to control rising insurance costs:
- Understand your legal responsibilities as an owner/occupier of your premises:
You have responsibilities under law to take reasonable care to ensure that people are safe
while on your premises. When someone slips, trips, falls and is injured on your premises, you
should expect that legal action will be brought against you. - Learn how to keep people safe on your premises:
To begin, you should identify any existing hazards on your premises and fix them immediately.
Next, establish procedures to ensure safety inspections are conducted regularly, maintain
and fix potential hazards, warn others of hazards, investigate and document any slip and fall
incident that may occur, even if no one was injured. Document your procedures with reliable
record-keeping - Know how to successfully defend your premises against legal action.
Slip and fall claims can be successfully defended when:
• You have well documented and adequate inspection and maintenance
procedures in place
• Any danger had been well marked with signs and/or enclosed by barriers, and/
or an alternative route had been clearly provided and the danger was not longstanding
• Your system of inspection and maintenance is well documented