FACTS

Potential dangers of slips, trips, and falls in a restaurant:

1. Head injuries: If someone falls and hits their head, they can suffer a concussion, skull fracture, or other head injury, which can be very serious and even life-threatening.
2. Broken bones: A fall can result in fractures or breaks in bones, particularly in the wrists, ankles, and hips.
3. Sprains and strains: A slip or trip can cause a twisted ankle, knee, or wrist, resulting in a sprain or strain.
4. Back injuries: Falls can cause back injuries, including herniated disks or muscle strains.
5. Cuts and bruises: Falls can also result in cuts, bruises, and abrasions.
6. Lawsuits and legal liability: If someone is injured due to a slip, trip, or fall at a restaurant, the restaurant may be held liable for any damages or medical bills, leading to legal and financial consequences.
7. Reputation damage: If a customer is injured in a fall at a restaurant, negative publicity results.
8. Burns: Falls can also cause burns if a person lands on hot surfaces, such as a grill or stove.
9. Loss of revenue: If a customer or employee is injured on your restaurant’s premises, it can result in lost revenue due to legal fees, workers’ compensation claims, or decreased customer traffic.
10. Increased insurance costs: If your restaurant has a history of slip, trip, and fall incidents, your insurance premiums may increase significantly, making it more expensive to operate your business.

STATS

• Slips, trips, and falls accounted for 27% of the 888,220 nonfatal work injuries that resulted in time off, in 2019, according to the C.D.C. In 2018, numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show about 7,850 injuries were caused by slips, trips, and falls in restaurants.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips, trips, and falls are the leading cause of injury in the workplace, and the restaurant industry has one of the highest rates of slip, trip, and fall incidents.
• The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) reports that slips and falls account for over one million hospital emergency room visits each year, and restaurants are the second leading industry for these accidents.
• In 2020, there were approximately 24,880 reported non-fatal workplace injuries involving slips, trips, and falls in the restaurant industry.
• Slip, trip, and fall injuries accounted for 15% of all non-fatal workplace injuries in the restaurant industry.
• The average cost of a slip, trip, or fall injury in the restaurant industry is approximately $20,000 in medical expenses and lost wages.