Fall Hazards: Risks and Safety Tips for Homes and Businesses

Fall brings cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, shorter days, and plenty of seasonal maintenance. It also brings changing weather conditions that can create new safety hazards around homes and businesses.

Wet leaves can make sidewalks slippery. Early morning frost can develop before people expect it. Reduced daylight can make steps, parking lots, and walkways more difficult to see. Homeowners may be using ladders to clean gutters or trim branches, while businesses may be dealing with wet entryways, seasonal displays, and increased maintenance needs.

Many fall hazards are preventable. Taking time to inspect your property, address changing conditions, and prepare for colder weather can help reduce the risk of injuries and property damage throughout the season.

Fall Safety Around Your Home

Autumn is often one of the busiest times of year for home maintenance. Gutters need cleaning, leaves need raking, outdoor furniture needs to be stored, and the property may need to be prepared for winter.

These routine tasks can create hazards of their own, especially when homeowners are working on ladders, walking across wet surfaces, or handling cleanup after storms.

Keep Walkways, Steps, and Driveways Clear

Fallen leaves may look harmless, but they can become extremely slippery when wet. Leaves can also hide uneven pavement, holes, loose stones, tree roots, and other hazards underneath them.

Regularly remove leaves and debris from:

• Sidewalks
• Driveways
• Steps and stairs
• Porches
• Decks
• Patios
• Paths leading to entrances

Pay particular attention to the areas used by visitors, delivery drivers, children, and anyone who may be less familiar with your property.

While clearing leaves, take a closer look at the condition of the walking surfaces themselves. Cracked pavement, loose boards, uneven steps, or unstable handrails may become even more hazardous once rain, frost, or snow arrives.

Watch for Early Frost and Ice

Freezing conditions do not have to last all day to create a hazard.

During the fall, temperatures may drop below freezing overnight and rise again later in the morning. That can create frost or thin patches of ice on decks, sidewalks, driveways, stairs, and other outdoor surfaces.

Shaded areas can remain slippery longer because they receive less direct sunlight. Areas near downspouts or other drainage points can also stay wet and freeze when temperatures fall.

As colder weather approaches, homeowners may want to keep ice treatment products and snow-removal equipment accessible rather than waiting until the first freeze.

Use Ladders Safely

Fall maintenance often involves tasks that are above ground level, including cleaning gutters, inspecting the roof, trimming branches, changing exterior lights, and putting up seasonal decorations.

Always use a ladder that is appropriate for the job and place it on a firm, level surface. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, keep your body centered between the ladder rails, and avoid stretching or leaning too far to reach an area.

Wet grass, leaves, uneven soil, or sloped pavement can make ladder placement particularly dangerous.

Having someone nearby can also be helpful when using a ladder. For jobs that require climbing onto a roof, working near electrical lines, removing large branches, or reaching difficult areas, hiring a qualified professional may be the safer choice.

Check Your Outdoor Lighting

Daylight becomes noticeably shorter during the fall. Areas that were easy to see during the summer may suddenly be dark when family members, guests, or delivery drivers arrive.

Walk around your property after sunset and look for areas that may need better lighting.

Pay close attention to:

• Front and back entrances
• Exterior stairs
• Sidewalks and pathways
• Driveways
• Detached garages
• Decks and patios

Replace burned-out bulbs and make sure existing fixtures are working properly. Motion-activated lighting may also improve visibility around areas that are not continuously illuminated.

Prepare Trees and Outdoor Property for Fall Weather

Fall storms and strong winds can bring down weakened branches and move unsecured outdoor items.

Inspect trees for visibly damaged, dead, or hanging branches. If a tree appears unstable or requires substantial trimming, consider having it inspected by a qualified tree professional.

Patio furniture, umbrellas, grills, decorations, children's toys, and other outdoor items should also be secured or stored when strong weather is expected.

Clearing gutters and downspouts can help rainwater drain away properly. Clogged gutters can contribute to overflowing water, slippery walking areas, and other property concerns.

Be Careful During Yard Cleanup

Leaf blowers, lawn equipment, trimmers, and other tools can make fall cleanup easier, but they also introduce additional risks.

Wear appropriate footwear and protective equipment for the job. Keep children and pets away from operating equipment, and make sure tools are turned off before attempting to remove debris or perform maintenance.

Extension cords used outdoors should be designed for outdoor use and positioned where they will not create a tripping hazard.

Fall Safety for Businesses

Seasonal hazards are not limited to residential properties.

Businesses may have employees, customers, vendors, delivery drivers, and other visitors moving through parking lots, sidewalks, entrances, offices, stores, warehouses, or other work areas throughout the day.

A condition that seems minor can quickly become a safety concern when many people are using the same area.

Keep Entrances and Walkways Safe

Commercial entrances can become particularly hazardous during rainy fall weather.

Water, leaves, dirt, and mud can be tracked inside and create slippery flooring near entrances. Floor mats can help, but worn, curled, or poorly positioned mats can become tripping hazards themselves.

Businesses should routinely check:

• Sidewalks
• Parking areas
• Steps and ramps
• Building entrances
• Interior floors
• Floor mats
• Handrails
• Exterior lighting

Water and debris should be cleaned up promptly. Warning signs may be appropriate when a temporary hazard cannot be corrected immediately.

The condition of outdoor walking areas should also be monitored as temperatures begin to fall and frost becomes more likely.

Establish a Routine for Property Inspections

A regular inspection process can make it easier to identify hazards before someone is injured.

The appropriate schedule will depend on the type of business, property, weather, and amount of foot traffic. A retail store may need to check its entrance frequently during a rainy day, while another business may focus more heavily on sidewalks, loading areas, or parking lots.

Businesses may want to establish clear responsibilities for inspecting and maintaining commonly used areas.

Documenting inspections, maintenance, and corrective actions can also help create consistency and make sure safety issues are not overlooked.

Improve Visibility as Daylight Changes

Shorter daylight hours can affect businesses as well as homes.

Employees may begin or end their shifts in darkness, and customers may be arriving after sunset even during normal business hours.

Exterior lighting should provide adequate visibility around entrances, sidewalks, parking spaces, ramps, stairs, loading areas, and other frequently used locations.

Burned-out lights should be replaced promptly. Trees, signs, landscaping, or seasonal decorations should not block important lighting or make it difficult for drivers and pedestrians to see each other.

Reduce Ladder and Maintenance Risks

Employees may use ladders during the fall to change lighting, retrieve stored inventory, hang seasonal displays, perform maintenance, or prepare the property for winter.

Make sure employees are using equipment that is appropriate for the task and that they understand how to use it safely.

Chairs, boxes, shelving, and other makeshift platforms should not be used as ladder substitutes.

Certain work, including roof repairs, tree trimming, electrical work, and other specialized maintenance, may be better handled by a qualified contractor.

Keep Work Areas Organized

Fall can bring changes inside a business as well.

Seasonal merchandise, displays, decorations, additional inventory, deliveries, extension cords, and stored equipment can all affect how people move through a workplace.

Keep aisles, stairways, emergency exits, and other walking areas clear. Boxes and inventory should be stored securely rather than placed where employees or customers may trip over them.

Seasonal decorations should also be positioned so they do not block exits, signs, lighting, security equipment, or fire safety equipment.

Prepare for Rain, Frost, Snow, and Ice

Businesses should have a plan for changing weather conditions before winter arrives.

Depending on the property, that may include determining who is responsible for:

• Clearing sidewalks and entrances
• Treating icy walking surfaces
• Monitoring parking areas
• Placing temporary warning signs
• Cleaning wet interior floors
• Checking exterior lighting
• Responding after storms

Businesses that lease their space should also understand which maintenance responsibilities belong to the tenant and which belong to the property owner or management company.

Planning before hazardous weather arrives can make it easier to respond quickly when conditions change.

Consider Employee Safety

Fall hazards can affect employees as well as customers.

Outdoor workers may be exposed to wet surfaces, falling branches, reduced visibility, colder temperatures, and changing conditions. Employees performing maintenance or moving equipment may also face additional risks during seasonal preparation.

Businesses should review appropriate safety procedures for the work being performed and make sure employees have suitable equipment and training.

Depending on the state and circumstances, workers' compensation insurance may provide benefits for certain job-related injuries.

How Insurance May Help

Good maintenance and safety procedures can reduce risk, but accidents can still happen.

For homeowners, homeowners insurance may include personal liability coverage that can help cover certain claims if someone is injured on the property and the loss is covered under the policy.

Renters insurance and condo insurance can also include personal liability coverage. The coverage available and how it applies will depend on the policy and circumstances.

For businesses, commercial general liability insurance can help protect against certain covered claims involving bodily injury to customers, vendors, or other visitors.

Businesses may also have workers' compensation coverage for qualifying employee injuries, depending on state requirements and the business's insurance arrangements.

Insurance policies vary significantly. Coverage can depend on the cause of the accident, policy limits, deductibles, exclusions, endorsements, and other terms.

Review Your Property Before Winter Arrives

Fall offers a useful opportunity to look at your property before colder winter weather creates additional challenges.

Walk around your home or business and look at the areas people use most frequently. Check steps, handrails, sidewalks, parking areas, entrances, lighting, drainage, trees, and other potential trouble spots.

Small maintenance issues may be easier to address now than after temperatures drop further.

It is also a good time to review your insurance and make sure your policies reflect your current home, property, or business situation.

Chadwick Insurance can help you review your personal or business insurance and discuss questions you may have about your current coverage. Contact us to learn more.