Running a business is complicated and potentially draining to your finances as well as your well being. But, you don’t just need to deal with generating business and keeping your staff happy. In fact there are 7 legal liabilities within any commercial landscape. Failing to recognize and prepare for these can leave you vulnerable to a lawsuit that could destroy your business!
- Trip Hazards
The first thing that every business should be aware of is what trip hazards are on your site. If you have stairs or a raised piece of flooring you need to ensure there are signs telling employees of the issue. It is also a good idea to correct the issue as quickly as possible; if you can.
Anything that could be tripped over has the potential to give you a legal headache.
- Lighting
Many legal liability cases centre round the ability to see what is happening in the vicinity. If you have poor lighting in the workplace you’re encouraging claims regarding falls or even sight damage.
It is essential to ensure every part of the premises is well lit.
- Trees & Bushes
The dram doesn’t end inside your building. As long as someone is on your grounds they could injure themselves or be injured. You need to trim all trees and bushes at least once a year. This will prevent them from growing into pathways and crating obstacles for staff and visitors.
Trees should also be inspected to ensure they remain safe, if a branch or even a whole tree falls onto someone you’ll be looking at a legal fight.
- Fire Hazards
Fire can kill. You need to ensure that you have fire escapes that are accessible and open properly. It is also important to give fire training and have adequate signage up. This will ensure that if the worst does happen you’ll have done everything you could.
- Underground Pipes
Flooding, backing up of sewerage and even digging into a sewer pipe are all items that will see you potentially facing a lawsuit. Fortunately, you can check by having a CCTV Inspection that will literally send a camera inside your pipes to ensure they are clear.
This can detect blockages and even cracks in the pipes; allowing you to take action before they become a bigger issue to you and your employees.
- Procedures
Anything that happens in the workplace should have a procedure attached to it. This is the way to operate a machine safely and ensure productivity remains high.
It is also an effective way of protecting yourself against lawsuits.
You simply need to have a procedural guide to all potentially dangerous processes and make sure that all users have read the guide and signed off on it.
- Electrical Inspections
Accidents do happen but a regular electrical inspection will help to reduce the risks of this happening and cover your legal liabilities if something does happen.
It’s a sad necessity; being prepared for disaster will help to prevent it leaving you without a business.
