From signage to stunning interior decorations, reward programs, quality customer service, branded merchandise, and promotions, businesses utilize several strategies to attract customers. However, for customers to have a truly enjoyable experience, they need to feel safe at any establishment they visit and it is the duty of business owners to provide a reasonably safe environment for their workers.

“Keeping an establishment reasonably safe means providing adequate security, which depends on foreseeable risk. For example, you would expect that a bar in a high-crime area of town would need significantly more security measures than a grocery store in a middle-class neighborhood with a low crime rate,” says Brandon Stein, the founder of SafetyRights.com, a reputable law firm based in Florida.

It’s worth mentioning that a business may be held liable for any injuries suffered by patrons, especially if such injuries occurred due to the negligence of the property owners. As a result, it’s in the best interest of all business owners to provide basic security measures to protect their customers.

The exact type of security measures to be implemented depends on the nature and location of the business. Below, we discuss simple and practical steps business owners can take to make their premises safer for patrons.

Risk Assessment And Implementation Of Adequate Security Measures

The first thing businesses should do is carry out a thorough risk assessment to identify potential threats that could compromise the safety of everyone onsite. Usually, the result of risk assessment would necessitate implementing some security measures, such as installing and maintaining security cameras or hiring competent and qualified security guards.

Depending on the business type and location, it may be sensible to install metal detectors at entrances as a barrier against gun assault. Another option is to provide staff with a silent alarm they can trigger in case of an emergency. Some types of silent alarms automatically trigger when someone opens up the window or other parts of the premises in an unusual manner.

Implementing a combination of different security measures depending on the potential security risks of a business is bound to prevent injuries due to robberies or assaults. The business is also protecting itself and we are not just talking about avoiding lawsuits about negligent security. When there is adequate security in a business, such a business is more protected from vandalism, burglary and theft, arson, and unaccounted visitors that may have nefarious intent.

Prevent Slip And Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are to be taken very seriously as they are common in the workplace affecting employees and resulting in visits to the emergency room and lost workdays. So, it’s not just customers that are at risk of slip and fall accidents.

Usually, slip and fall accidents occur due to wet surfaces, uneven flooring, damaged walkways, potholes in the parking lot, and so on. And a business must take action to rectify any situation that may lead to a fall and slip accident. This means cleaning up any spill, removing snow and ice from the walkway, putting up a ‘wet floor sign’ after mopping, or cordoning mopped areas until they are dry and safe to walk on.

Poor lighting is another common slip-and-fall accident and employees and customers alike may find it difficult to spot hazards in areas with poor visibility, glares, or shadows. To improve the safety of everyone onsite, adequate lighting should be installed along walkways and in poorly lit areas.

It’s recommended that businesses have plans for days with bad weather. Inclement weather increases the risk of slip-and-fall accidents, whether it’s raining or snowing. There should be provision for mopping the floor after rain, removing snow, or sprinkling salt on icy walkways.

Inspect, Inspect, And Inspect

Businesses need to diligently inspect their premises and be on the lookout for potential hazards. It may seem stressful to constantly scan for hazards, but with business ownership comes great responsibility. It’s preferable that business owners are the ones to discover a potential hazard and rectify it than to find out about said hazard the hard way after an employee or customer got injured due to the hazard.

Clutter, tripping hazards, and exposed wires can cause nasty slips and falls. Fortunately, they can be easily discovered with constant vigilance. The ways products are displayed can also result in slips and falls. As a result, business owners need to know the difference between displaying/advertising products and creating an obstacle course. For employees working in high-skid areas, one of the best and simplest ways to protect against slips and falls is to mandate non-skid footwear.