Slip and Fall: Not Funny When It Hurts

Comedians have been using pratfalls on banana peels and other slip and fall gags since time immemorial. Cave dwellers probably placed animal sinew on the ground to trip up neighbors intent on stealing their leftover mastodon.

But slip and fall isn’t always fun and games especially in the modern world. What may be funny to watch is no fun at all when someone gets hurt. Even TV entertainment shows tend to include a public service announcement warning us to be careful. “Don’t try this at home” is serious about humor safety.

A Heavy Price

Slip and fall incidents happen a lot more often than we may think, and can exact a considerable toll, both in terms of health and claims. At Impact Absorbents, we have a zero slip and fall tolerance policy, which is why we strive every day to innovate products that help lower these risks. To put slip and fall claims into perspective for your employer, or for your own business, consider these eleven data-specific examples:

  • Approximately 25,000 people a day are victims of slip-and-fall accidents, at a cost of $3.5 millionper hour, 365 days per year. This amounts to over $30 billion per year. (National Safety Council)
  • The average cost of a slip-related injury exceeds $12,000. (Wausau Insurance)
  • The average cost to defend a slip-and-fall lawsuit is $50,000. (National Floor Safety Institute)
  • 57% of all food service general liability insurance claims are slip and fall accidents. (CNA Financial Corporation)
  • Slip and fall incidents are the number one cause of accidents in public buildings. 70% of these accidents occur on aflat and levelsurface. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  • Since 1980, personal injury lawsuits have risen more than 300% in the food service industry. (NFSI)
  • The food service industry’s leading cause of employee injury is slipping and falling. 65% of all lost workdays are due to slip and fall accidents, resulting in 95 million lost workdays per year. (Liberty Mutual)
  • Compensation and medical costs associated with employee slip-and-fall accidents total almost $70 billion annually. (National Safety Council)
  • Slip and fall accidents in supermarkets are the number one cause of both employee and customer injuries. (NFSI)
  • The grocery industry spends $450 million annually to defend slip and fall claims. (NFSI)
  • Almost 60% of all grocery store general liability insurance claims are slip and fall complaints. (NFSI)

In our distracted world, we need to be more vigilant than ever before, at work, at play, and on the road. Stop texting and smell the roses every now and then. And make sure to have your feet firmly planted on the ground when you do. You never know when there might be a banana peel or equivalent in your path, and it won’t be funny if you slip and fall.

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