Slip and Fall

[Grizzly]

The bane of the janitorial industry. What do you do to protect YOURSELF . How successful is it? Do people REALLY stop at the caution tape?

[Kevin]

Stop!!!!! WET WAX!!!!! YOU!!!! STOP!!!!! ....lol GET HIM!!!! We use caution tape in all locations where there is the possibility of someone walking on the floor. We always make sure that it is right below chest level. Now and then a perpetrator try`s to cross, a good verbal lashing always helps.

[AAJANITOR.COM]

cynmar said:

The Do people REALLY stop at the caution tape?

Just so happens that yesterday we were doing a new office in a strip mall. While the crew was inside I was outside pressure washing the front and then doing the windows. I put 2 cones and caution tape on each end and caution tape all along the front. You had to either be blind or stupid to miss it. 3 different people crossed the line and slipped. I laughed my ass off at them ;D and asked them if they could read and why would they cross the line. Most replied Mardi Gras They must have thought I was blocking the sidewalk for a parade that passes 30 miles away? Go figure people are stupid.

[Grizzly]

Let's see if we can come up with any suggestions to help any newbies. Like Wray and Kevin, what we have right now doesn't seem to work. Janitorial companies get sued for millions for this every year? Has anyone tried the portable barrier system by Rubbermaid, or the tall pylons that have a light, voice recorder and pull out caution tape on top. Have they worked any better than signs and caution tape? This is also a good part of the reason why our insurance rates are so high. Trying to elicit some suggestions for a newbie to read. I use the Hey ???You //// Stupid??? DO I SCREW UP YOUR WORK method as well.

Bill

[logan5127]

Protect yourself from law suites. You should have several wet/floor signs up. In English and Spanish. You should have caution tape up as well. I also always let client know that if they request any stripping / finishing to be done where possibility of some one walking on it that we are not responsible for falls or foot prints in wax. In the event of prints in wax the client is responsible to pay to have it stripped again if they so request. You can tie ropes up; put signs up; and holler but somewhere , sometime ; someone will still step onto the floor.Once a clients employee was getting ready to cross an isle we just had waxed. she climbed over the rope and I hollered just before she stepped onto the isle and said you can't step there. She ran across the isle and said how about over here, can I step here? I just smiled and said yea that side is OK.I use to get aggravated at these type people , but no more. I just do my best and smile as they slide away.

[Grizzly]

The grizzly eats people who step in his wax.

Bill

[logan5127]

Bill (Teddy Bear) Cynmar wrote: The grizzly eats people who step in his wax.
Go get em , Teddy Bear. lol You've just got to love him!!! Dan

[logan5127]

Today we were cleaning a store that was closed due to robbery and vandalism. We strung up caution tape from corners of building out and around gas pumps. we set a couple of mop buckets under this tape. We had truck and trailer on inside of the taped off area. In the door we had four large ace blowers setting in a column about 6 foot high , all turned on high blowing out the door. There was only a small space where you could get around the blowers. But guess what , we had numerous people come through the door, under the caution tape, pass the mop buckets and squeezing by the blowers, as if we were open for business. I know common sense is harder to find these days but it is amazing at how many have none at all. Maybe they just wanted their hair dried as they squeezed through by the blowers.

[Linda]

We are lucky in this area so far. Once the floors are done the doors are locked and you always hear my boss in another room saying to someone who is wanting in that room, No, I said no, I said no, Your not listening I just laugh and go on about my business. Once I start helping actually doing the floors I will be saying, No, she said no, she said no, Your not listening
They really dont care if they mess up your work. They feel you are interferring with their break time. Get a stanley thurmos and a dang cooler you can keep in your locker.

Linda

[logan5127]

Linda , you have brought up another point. The workers in a factory for the most part think we are less then they are. They think they are more important then we are, even though we are probably making 5 to 20 times more money then they are for the time we are there. It seems like sometimes they may do things out of being angry at us for interferring with there daily routines . Perhaps some of those falls are brought on by theirselves due to their own ignorance. But still yet it is best to deal with them as nice as possible and be the bigger and better person for doing so.

[Renovare]

Y'all remember the line from the flamingly flamboyant "Liberace" when prodded about his efete get up, mirrored pianos, and "George...take this candelabra to Mother....?"

"George and I laughed...all the way to the bank."