Property damages, accidents, and insurance claims are all fast ways to lose your commercial property. As a business owner and property owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure the safety of those inside and around the building. You’ll need to know how to handle the situations if they arise, but more importantly, you need to know how to prevent accidents from happening on your commercial property.
Maintenance and Repairs
Don’t hold off on maintenance and repairs. If there is so much as a leaky faucet in your building, you need to repair it. Have repairs done as issues arise. Letting problems build and fester can result in lawsuits.
It’s tempting to put off repairs until there’s no one in the building. But it’s okay to get maintenance done while people are around. Just make sure you place warning signs in the area letting everyone know that the space is currently closed for maintenance. Provide people with alternatives so they don’t seek them out themselves.
Interior Inspections
The best type of medicine is preventative medicine. The same can be said when it comes to your building. By getting routine inspections done, you stop a problem in its tracks before it even has a chance to form.
Given the doctrine of comparative negligence, you must schedule routine interior inspections on your building to ensure that all safety and maintenance concerns are addressed. Focus on electrical, plumbing, and ventilation areas. Ventilation is critical because you don’t want a mold or asbestos problem to develop. People refer to those things as “silent killers.” You don’t want to find yourself facing a mass tort lawsuit for exposing people to these harmful airborne particles.
Exterior Inspections
The outside is just as important as the inside. If you want to kill two birds with one stone, get the exterior inspected on the same day as the interior. Just make sure you hire someone who specializes in both areas.
The maintenance person will need to tackle the roof and surrounding area. The parking lot is equally important. Have them check for any cracks or damages. You’ll also want to make sure your lot has proper striping to prevent car accidents.
Proper Signage
Close off areas where accidents could happen, but more importantly, post signs warning people of dangerous areas. It’s also a good idea to place signs for direction purposes. You can prevent accidents simply by telling people which way they need to enter and exit.
Place an exit sign before and near every door. Direct people to the elevators, escalators, or stairs. You’ll need signs for the restroom as well, and you should make them accessible. Include brail on the signs for the seeing impaired.
If you can prevent any accidents on your commercial property, then do so. It’s good for you, your business, and everyone else around.