Looking for a Sign

Floor safety also encompasses the placement of signs. Floor safety signs offer clear and concise information to building occupants and can help to prevent slips, trips, and falls. They serve as a visual reminder of floor conditions, ensuring that everyone is aware of the potential risks.  

“'Wet Floor' signs, if used correctly, are one of the tools that will help to keep you out of trouble with lawsuits.” Craddock says. “But just using one is not enough. The best practices are to use them at every floor transition (carpet to hard floor) or every penetration (every doorway, top of every stairwell, in front of every elevator, where two hallways intersect).” 

Per ANSI (American National Standard Institute) standards, Craddock explains, “Wet Floor” signs are considered “caution signs”, which must be yellow with black lettering. These are certainly the most used, but although ANSI standards are highly regarded, they are only voluntary and cannot be legally enforced. That is why there are floor signs available in a variety of colors and styles.  

No matter what sign is used, they must, at a minimum, have the words “Caution Wet Floor” on them. In Spanish-speaking areas, the words “Cuidado Piso Mojado” will also appear. Finally, they typically have an international standard pictograph of a human stick figure showing them slipping on a surface, for those that do not read or speak the language. The words need to be on all sides of the sign, according to ANSI recommendations. 

Human nature being what it is, however, “it is important to understand that people will not always abide by the signage,” Hulin says. “People will remove signs, step over caution tape, or navigate protective barriers. They do not think about the potential danger. They will tip-toe across the wet floor indicating that they will be careful. This is unacceptable because they don’t know the potential danger, or they may be tip toeing over freshly applied floor finish. It is important to place the signage in a way that makes it more difficult to go through it than around it.” 

If fans are being used to dry floors where moisture or water (perhaps from melting snow) has accumulated, “Wet Floor” signs should be posted along with the fans, as people may not realize the purpose of the fans.  

“You might have to be careful in placement as these signs are plastic and can be blown over, thus creating a hazard,” Craddock adds. 

To be effective, proper floor and sign management must be standard protocol. Signs that are left out when there is no hazard will quickly become commonplace. Then, when a hazard is present, building occupants will dismiss the signage there to keep them safe.  

Signs “should be removed as soon as the hazard has been mitigated so people don't become desensitized to them, which can happen when people walk past 'Wet Floors' signs when the floor is dry,” McNealy says. 

When Litigation Happens 

When a building occupant is injured in a slip or trip-and-fall incident, legal claims involve the concept of negligence; the failure of a property owner to take reasonable care to keep their premises safe. Injured parties have a right to seek compensation for damages. Both Hulin and Craddock say they have seen cases go to litigation that were dismissed when it was determined that the injured party did not obey floor safety signage, neglected it, or tried to navigate around it, although Hulin adds that he has also witnessed negligence on the part of the BSC being at fault for not placing signage. 

To protect themselves, BSCs should not only train staff, but post protocols and maintain proper logs that support safety programs. In the case of an accident, these documents will serve as protection against litigation. And although BSCs are not immune, McNealy observes that property owners are ultimately responsible for maintaining their floors in a safe manner, and for regularly inspecting them.  

“When they outsource maintenance, that doesn’t legally absolve of them of the responsibility,” he says. “However, other parties that contract to do maintenance may also become responsible parties, depending on the jurisdiction and the circumstances. I believe that cleaning contractors should always be diligent when it comes to floor and mat cleaning, signage, and maintenance.” 

Shannon O'Connor is a freelance writer from Mason, Ohio.