When our Wisconsin winter kicks into full force, it’s not unusual for company hallways and floors to turn into a winter hazard. All the snow and ice gets tracked in your office area, warehouse, production and shipping departments; the result is a slippery, dirty surface ripe for slips, trips, and falls, which costs U.S. companies billions every year (yes, billions not millions). The good news is that there are steps your company can take to minimize the risk of workplace injuries to your employees and guests.
Make clean walks a priority.
If you want to keep the snow out of your hallways and floors, start your effort on the exterior or your building. Contract your snow removal to an outside company or send an employee out to clean the driveway and parking lots before employees start to arrive. Assign an employee to clean your walks or add the responsibility of clean sidewalks to the list of tasks your snow removal vendor.
Put rugs by all the doors.
Rugs can be a valuable asset in your company’s effort to keep your floors dry and safe. Locate your rugs strategically by all entrances and exits. If the door is used heavily, get rugs that are big and long enough to be used by all the boots and footwear that comes in and out.
Keep up on regular maintenance.
Keeping your sidewalks and lots clean, and your interior floor dry and safe is an on-going responsibility. Don’t settle for a one-time clean. Send employees out regularly to keep the walks clean, or request that your snow removal vendor return to keep your exterior clean and well-kept. In the same way, send your cleaning or maintenance crew to keep hallways and floors dry throughout the day.
Schedule a deep clean during company shutdown.
Even the busiest companies shut down or run with a minimal crew during off peak hours. Take advantage of those times. Contact a commercial cleaning company to deep clean your floors during shutdowns and off-peak hours. Floors that aren’t regularly clean can lose traction and compromise the safety of your facility.
