Businesses should be proactive about accident and claims prevention. 
 
As part of this process, it is important to train all employees about potential hazards at a business and how to remedy those hazards before an accident occurs. 
 
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, some general guidelines can be followed to train employees and help keep customers safe. 
 
Many businesses maintain policies specific to the nature of their workplace. These policies can provide general guidelines regarding expectations of employees. It is critical, however, if a business is going to have policies, that their employees be familiar with them, understand them and review them frequently. 
 
Also, policies should be available at all times for employees to review when a situation covered by a policy arises. For example, if your business has a policy regarding accident response, any employees assisting with an accident should be able to reference the policy and review the provided steps as they work through the accident to ensure compliance with the policy. 
 
In addition to having general policies and employee training on those policies, I also recommend the following:

• Conduct regular safety meetings. Discuss issues that have arisen and appropriate responses to those. 
• Stress that safety is the number-one  priority and “practice what you preach.” It is everyone’s responsibility to maintain a safe workplace.
• Identify potential hazards at the business and minimize those hazards as much as possible. Post warnings if a hazard cannot be eliminated.
• Set clear standards for cleaning and maintenance and make sure all employees know what is expected. 
• Remind employees that accident prevention is a 24/7 job. A hazard can arise quickly and without warning.  Employees need to be aware and respond accordingly. 

Training employees in accident prevention can help avoid injuries and claims. Safety should be everyone’s goal, and employees should have clear standards on what is expected of them to accomplish a safer workplace. 
 
This does not constitute legal advice. Please seek counsel from a legal professional to assess your specific situation.

Deedee Gasch has over a decade of experience litigating catastrophic claims involving serious injury or death. While Deedee’s practice is primarily focused on the defense of premises liability, trucking and commercial vehicle accidents, and medical malpractice, she also has a wide range of civil litigation experience. She spent approximately half of her career representing injured plaintiffs before returning to her first love of civil litigation defense work. This experience on both sides of a case uniquely situates her in negotiations and at trial if settlement is not possible. Deedee is a third-generation Tar Heel and attorney, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, a North Carolina Resident Superior Court Judge (deceased), and her father, a career trial lawyer. She has dual degrees in Journalism and Political Science and earned her law degree cum laude from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida, where she attended on a prestigious merit based scholarship. She is licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and Florida.