Rain, Snow or Sleet,Watch Your Feet! BY KATHY PHILLIPS


in parking lots, on sidewalks and other outdoor spaces. It is imperative – particularly in parking areas where water tends to create puddles or sidewalks that can get slick – that safetymeasures be taken.


W While some believe that this is a simple fact of doing busi-


ness, proper attention can reduce the occurrence of these situa- tions and have a significant impact in reducing employee and cus- tomer injuries. Following are some tasks thatwill help the parking garage owner/operator in reducing the frequency of these claims:


Weather Rain, sleet, snowand ice greatly increase the slip, trip and fall


hazard.Managementmust keep a close eye on weather patterns to ensure that proper equipment andmaterials are available to reduce standing water, de-ice areas and remove snow, especially in park- ing areas where the weather can determine the lighting needed or cleanup required. Simply placing signs to notify that the floors are wet can result in an admission of liability. Customers and employees should be re-routed whenever


possible to ensure their safety; of course, absorbent mats should be placed at entryways. Mats should be checked regularly and


One does not require a light meter to determine if areas are too dim or require additional lighting.


saturated ones should be changed out. Providing additional tem- porary cover to protect customers from the elements is a nice service gesture and can also help unwanted tracking into a facili- ty or structure.


Walking Surfaces External walking surfaces should be included in regular


inspections to ensure that hazards are corrected expeditiously, including efforts to: • Fill and patch cracks and holes. • Repair and eliminate raised areas due to tree roots, settling,


cold weather (frost heaves) and ordinary wear-and-tear. • Reduce surface water by directing roof drainage away from


sidewalks and parking areas. • Clear sidewalks/parking areas of snow/ice before employees


and guests arrive. • Center and secure parking stoppers. • Paint or stain parking stoppers near entrances “safety yel-


low” to improve visibility. PT 28 DECEMBER 2010 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com


Lighting Inadequate lighting also may lead to accidents involving


falls in parking lots, trips over curbing, falls on stairs from a parking lot to a store, and trips and falls due to holes, cracks and uneven surfaces. There are recommended standards to levels of lighting. How-


ever, one does not require a light meter to determine if areas are too dim or require additional lighting. It is a good idea to supple- ment preventive maintenance efforts by conducting lighting sur- veys and inspections in the evening.This can be done during secu- rity walks if your organization conducts them or as part of your regular safety inspection committee walks.


Footwear Footwear policies are often looked to as the only means of


preventing slips, trips and falls. Additional difficulties are pres- ent due to the need for footwear to match dress code require- ments.Where ever possible, employees should be required to have slip-resistant soles often associated with athletic shoes. In the event it is just not possible to accommodate the use of non- dress shoes, employees should be requested to wear shoes with slip-resistant soles to and from work. Slip covers also can be provided to employees who may be required to go into the ele- ments infrequently. On-goingmanagement of the above tasks can greatly improve


the safety of the facilities you operate and manage without nega- tively impacting services.


Kathy Phillips, CIC, CPP, is First Vice President of Alliant Insurance Services. She can be reached at kphillips@alliantinsurance.com.


ITH THE WINTER SEASON at hand, parking garage owners and operators must pay particu- lar attention to the increased exposure to slips, trips and falls


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