By Brentnie Daggett
With historically low temperatures and storms hitting the East Coast, there’s no shortage of weather and conditions that create the perfect opportunity to…slip. While winter weather brings fun adventures, it’s important to remember safety, especially if you're a homeowner or landlord. Guest and tenant safety should be at the forefront of your mind.
Snow, ice and rain can be a dangerous recipe for the errant foot traveler attempting to get inside from a storm. But slips and falls don’t have to be part of the equation. These quick slip prevention tips can keep your guests or tenants safe, and prevent you from being found liable for an injury.
Check Your Property’s Railings
Railings on decks, porches and stairways need to be secure to provide optimum safety. Remember that wear and tear can occur throughout the year, so be sure to verify the stability of any railings. They should be strong enough to support a person who may have lost their balance on an icy or wet patch.
Texture Walkways
To further aid visitors as they’re coming to and fro, take the time to add texture to your walkways and entrances, which will make it easier to travel over these areas during inclement weather. This slip prevention technique is especially important in areas that experience a lot of snow or rain. If you're a landlord, this can be an important safety measure for your tenants, as well as their guests.
Trim Your Trees and Bushes
While shrubs and trees are beautiful in the spring and summer, they need to be maintained during the winter for safety. Trim bushes that may have grown too large so that they don't impede a walkway. It's also important to remove or mark tree roots in your walkway.
Additionally, crunchy autumn leaves can turn into a slip hazard when wet, so keeping sidewalks and entryways clear is important for more than just aesthetic reasons. Regardless of what other slip prevention techniques you implement, if your walkways are covered in mulching debris, it’s likely this could cause a slip or fall.
Fill Holes in Lawn or Dirt Pathways
Fill in any holes that may be hidden from the glance of someone walking by. Paying attention to these areas can mean the difference between an injury on your property or smooth sailing through the winter season.
Remember that injury prevention is vital any time of year, but during the dangerous weather that winter can bring, it should be a priority. Slip prevention is an important part of making your property welcoming and safe. Your guests and tenants will appreciate the extra attentiveness, and you can rest easy knowing you did your due diligence.
Nancy M. Alexander - Stone Harbor and Avalon NJ Real Estate NancyAlexander.com
