SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 2004
STP12546S

Managing Slips and Falls: A Legal Perspective

Source

Annually, slip and fall incidents exact a substantial toll in terms of death, personal injury, personal suffering, workers compensation, loss in productivity and civil liability. The cause of slip and fall incidents and resultant damages are multiple and include unclean/unsafe floors, physiological characteristics of individuals, lack of training, inappropriate footwear and even fraud. A clear understanding of the underlying causes of slip and falls provides us with the framework for identifying those factors we can control and thus minimize and otherwise reduce one's potential liability.

Numerous parties may be responsible and therefore potentially liable for a slip and fall incident depending on the particular circumstances of a given situation. Parties that may be liable in a slip and fall incident include owners or operators of retail and other commercial facilities, and distributors and manufacturers of floor care products, flooring and footwear.

This paper outlines various proactive measures that individuals and companies can implement and which will help to eliminate or substantially reduce the incidence of slip and fall injuries, and any potential liability.

Author Information

Balek, WC
International Sanitary Supply Association, Lincolnwood, IL
Price: $25.00
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Details
Developed by Committee: D21
Pages: 141–152
DOI: 10.1520/STP12546S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5495-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-3482-9