Are Wet Floor Signs Enough?
The answer is NO!
Below we will discuss the When, Where and Why of wet floor signs but to kick things off let's start with the What Else. A wet floor sign alone is not enough to protect your customers and employees from a slip and fall. Nor is it enough to protect you as a business or building owner from liability if an accident were to happen. A wet floor sign is a warning to alert people of a hazard but it also acts as a billboard saying that you know you have a hazard and here it is! Your goal should be to remove the hazard as quickly as possible and use the wet floor signs as a warning during that time. Imagine if the puddle of water was actually a gaping hole in the floor. You would not simply place a sign near it. You would put up signs and barriers as well as employees on site until the hole was fixed. A wet floor is no different, the sign is not enough. Slip testing, action plans for accidental spills, hourly floor inspections, walk off mats, railings and a floor safety management plan should all be included right along with those little yellow signs.
WHEN - Wet Floor signs should be used when a potential slip and fall hazard exists. Oftentimes the hazard exists due to water or other liquid contaminants. Inclement weather, routine cleaning, accidental spills or leaking equipment are all potential causes of a hazard. Your wet floor signs should be used only when the hazard is present and your signs should be removed when the hazard is remediated. Leaving wet floor signs out all the time will dull peoples awareness and sensitivity. In addition, a wet floor sign should never be placed out alone. Meaning an employee or staff member should be present anytime a wet floor sign is in use, either removing the hazard or warning customers or other employees while they wait for someone else to remove the hazard.
WHERE - Wet floor signs should be placed near the hazard. Not on the hazard. If you are mopping a floor and the entire floor is wet, a sign placed in the middle of the floor will allow someone to enter the hazard area potentially before seeing the sign. Signs should be placed on either side of a hazard and in a triangle surrounding it if possible. If the wet floor is around a blind corner, place a sign on the other side of the corner so customers and employees are aware of the hazard.
WHY - This is a little more obvious. Warning signs are there to protect employees and customers from a potential hazard that could lead to a slip and fall accident. They are also there to protect a business or building owner from liability. Just remember, the sign is just a small piece to the solution of slip and falls.
