Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Wet Floor Sign Must Knows!

A wet floor sign and it’s requirements that you should know

Slips and falls are one of the most common causes of injuries that businesses have to deal with every day. Over 1 million Americans were rushed to the ER last year directly from slips and falls. These accidents are commonly found in large restaurant chains, hospitals or nursing homes. There are so many injuries that OSHA has set requirements which companies have to comply with. If they don't, liability is exposed. The to use a wet floor sign, however, just because you use a wet floor sign, doesn't mean you're free of liability. The purpose of a wet floor sign is to draw attention and alert the customers but if ever taken to court, a wet floor sign may or may not hold up. It is advised to use a four sided cone because it has a 360 degree view of the warning message. This will be the first thing a prosecuting attorney will review. If the warning message can't be noticed from the view of the customer, get your checkbook ready. But remember, if the wet floor sign, or cone, does not draw attention, the warning won't be communicated to the customer.
  • A wet floor sign is required to have a yellow or green background with black letters
  • A wet floor sign should appeal to the widest possible audience
  • A wet floor sign must have an action word and a descriptive phrase such as Caution, Wet Floor or Attention, Slippery When Wet
  • Warnings signs are required to contain all languages of the customers/employees demographic
  • A sign needs to be readable from at least 5 feet away
  • There are no height requirements on a wet floor sign or wet floor cone
  • There are however height requirements on orange traffic cones used in parking lots and street intersections
Takeaways: Try and provide the safest work space for your customers or employees. Find a wet floor sign that has a 360 degree view and that catches your attention!
Another great article: History of the wet floor sign