You often will see them in office buildings, schools, shopping malls and supermarkets to name a few places. They are bright, compact and warn you in advance of possible danger ahead. None of us like them as they disrupt our journey getting from one place to another, but in the end, they are there to protect us from harm.
What are we talking about? Wet floor signs. Little plastic or vinyl signs that warns us to guard our steps because the floor that we are about to walk on is wet.
Wet floor signs have been around since the beginning of the century and have come in different forms throughout the years. Today, you would often see four different types of wet floor signs – plastic, collapsible, soft cover, and cone shape. These are the main signs that are manufactured by major companies for commercial and industrial uses.
Main Usages
You would normally see these wet floor signs when a janitorial cleaner is mopping a floor or spill near washrooms, entrances, hallways, lobbies, cafeterias, or water faucets. They come in multiple languages for all to understand and some even come with little illustrative diagrams with a person who is ready to fall. You simply cannot miss these signs – they are bright, visible, and noticeable.
Why Important
Accidents and Injuries in the workplace is a huge problem in North America. In fact, slips and falls because of wet flooring is one of the top reasons for compensation claims. It is estimated that businesses spend billions of dollars annually in workers compensations and lawsuits because of these injuries. Think about what that means? A business loses an employee(s) for a specific period which means productivity is lost. Or perhaps, a business faces a lawsuit from a person who fell and injured themselves. Their profits diminish, their reputation suffers, and some businesses may even resort to filing for bankruptcies. Is it really worth it not to use wet floor signs?
Why Display Wet Floor Signs
Most commercial and industrial buildings furnish terrazzo, ceramic or marble flooring simply because they are super easy to clean. When wet, these floors can be extremely slippery especially during the autumn and winter seasons. It is to the building owner(s), managers, and janitorial maintenance personnel to make sure that wet floor signs are always used, respected and are clearly visible and noticeable for all to see. This should be mandatory in the janitorial maintenance protocol list and recommendations for every building if its not already. They are three main reasons why wet floor signs should always be displayed – the primary reason is to protect pedestrians from slips and falls that can result in injuries. Also, to avoid lawsuits and save time and money in compensation claims.
So, what do you think about wet floor signs? Are they a nuisance or a protection? No one wants accidents or injuries in the workplace or in public. The next time you’re going about your business, and you happened to stumble across a wet floor sign, do the right thing and respect it, it’s there to protect you and all involved.
“If it’s dirty, we’ll help you clean it”
