Make your business a falls-free zone!

September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month

Submitted by STEADY U Ohio, an initiative of the Ohio Department of Aging

Older adults probably play an important role in the success of your business, both as consumers and employees. That is, until they fall down.

One in three older adults will fall this year. Every five minutes, an older Ohioan is injured in a fall. When staff or customers fall in your business, it doesn’t just hurt them; it also hurts your reputation and your bottom line. A single fall can affect an older adult’s ability to remain independent and contribute to your continuing success.

Most falls in businesses can be prevented, and prevention can be achieved largely through staff and customer education and motivation. The STEADY U Ohio initiative is ready to help businesses create a safer environment for older adults and Ohioans of all ages who do business with them. Here are a few steps every business should take to prevent falls:

• Create a falls prevention policy for your business and make sure your employees know and understand it.
• Routinely identify issues with flooring, stairs, lighting and housekeeping that could cause accidents.
• Post signs at your entrance and around the business advising customers to notify staff of slipping or tripping hazards.
• Ensure that walkways are clean and clear of cords and obstructions. If you must use rugs or mats, ensure that they remain flat and that they do not move under foot.
• Ensure that people can move freely around displays in the aisles without adjusting their gait. Avoid displays at the end of aisles that obscure a customer’s view of other customers and obstacles.
• Have staff regularly monitor aisles for items that have fallen off shelves and are blocking.
• Quickly clean up all spills (dry and wet). Provide supplies (i.e., towels, “wet floor” signs, trash cans) in convenient locations around your business.
• Provide seating around your business, particularly in areas where customers may have to wait during busy times (e.g., near checkout lines, the service desk, the pharmacy, restrooms and exits).
• When it’s snowy or icy, extend sales or offer shopping options for older customers (e.g., delivery or rain checks by phone) so they don’t have to risk falling to get a good deal.
• Educate staff on proper lifting and carrying techniques and equipment, and instruct them to help customers carry large or bulky objects and bags.
• If someone falls, document the incident and examine the cause so that you can prevent future accidents. Use our incident report template to get started.
• Empower staff to offer assistance to customers who appear to be having trouble getting around.

Find tools to help your business prevent falls at our website, www.steadyu.ohio.gov. Resources include a sample falls prevention policy, a hazard checklist, an incident report template, tip sheets and a falls risk self-assessment. Educate yourself, your staff and your consumers, and make your business a falls-free zone!