5 Ways to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls

Slips, trips, and falls remain one of the leading causes of workplace injuries across Canada. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), these incidents account for about 17% of all time-loss injuries each year.

Professional floor cleaning services are one of the most effective ways to reduce this risk in commercial buildings. 

Here are five key ways these services contribute to safer, more slip-resistant environments.

1. Routine Cleaning Removes Hazards Like Spills and Debris

Spills, dirt buildup, and debris are common culprits behind slips and trips. 

A regularly scheduled floor cleaning program ensures these hazards are promptly removed — especially in high-traffic areas such as lobbies, hallways, and break rooms.

Here are just a few examples of how floor contaminants create risk in commercial spaces:

• 🧃 Spilled drinks or coffee in break rooms can leave sticky, slippery residue that poses a fall hazard.
• 🥪 Dropped food crumbs or packaging can cause tripping, especially if overlooked during spot cleaning.
• 🥾 Dirt and grit tracked in from shoes in lobbies can reduce floor traction and wear down finishes faster.
• 🧻 Paper scraps or supplies in hallways can become tripping hazards if not quickly removed.
• 🌧️ Moisture from rain or snow near entryways creates slippery surfaces that need constant attention.

Professional janitorial teams are trained to spot these issues early and remove them thoroughly using the right tools and cleaning procedures. 

By using commercial floor cleaning supplies and floor maintenance machines where appropriate, they help ensure clean, dry, and hazard-free floors throughout the day.

2. Proper Floor Finishes Improve Traction

Applying the right floor finishes (like wax or non-slip coatings) can significantly increase surface grip, especially on vinyl composite tile (VCT), linoleum, or concrete floors. 

Over time, foot traffic and moisture can wear down protective layers, making floors slick.

Professional cleaners not only strip and wax floors as needed but also use slip-resistant finishes that meet safety guidelines. 

Whether you’re maintaining VCT, linoleum, or even wood surfaces, professionals know how to strip and wax a floor correctly for your industry, restoring both appearance and safety.

🧪 Fact: Research from Science Direct recently pointed out that the type of flooring and floor finish must be specific for the given industry specifications, and that all types of lubricated environments are more slip-resistant with the proper floor finish coarseness.

3. Wet Floor Signage and Protocols Help Prevent Accidents

It’s not just about cleaning — it’s also about communication. Professional janitorial teams follow strict safety procedures during and after cleaning to prevent slip-and-fall incidents. These include:

• 🟡 Placing “Wet Floor” signage in clearly visible areas before mopping or spot-cleaning.
• 🚫 Blocking off high-risk zones (e.g., freshly waxed floors or stairs) to limit access during drying.
• 🧴 Using quick-dry products and proper ventilation to reduce downtime and floor slipperiness.
• 👷 Wearing slip-resistant footwear and training staff to recognize when to alert building occupants to hazards.
• 📝 Documenting cleaning times and signage placement for liability protection.

These steps ensure that staff, clients, and visitors are aware of temporary hazards and can navigate the space safely.

4. Deep Cleaning Eliminates Grime That Causes Slips

Over time, dirt, grease, and residues can build up, especially in kitchens, entrances, and industrial areas. 

Standard cleaning may not be enough to tackle these tougher areas — and that buildup creates dangerous slick spots.

Deep cleaning, including steam and power scrubbing, removes these layers of grime and restores the floor’s original traction. 

It’s an essential part of floor care services that keep both front-facing and behind-the-scenes areas safe.

🧼 Fact: WorkSafeBC notes “slips, trips, and falls due to wet or greasy floors are common occurrences in kitchens,” emphasizing the importance of regular deep cleaning to remove oily residues

5. Customized Floor Maintenance Plans Address Unique Risks

Every commercial space is different — from office buildings with carpeted walkways to retail stores with polished tile floors. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cut it.

Reputable floor cleaning providers assess your specific flooring types, foot traffic patterns, and risk zones to create a tailored maintenance plan. This includes determining how often to strip and wax floors based on usage and flooring type.

Whether it’s linoleum flooring in a medical facility or VCT in a retail space, different industries require different maintenance schedules and approaches. 

When it comes to stripping and waxing of floors, frequency matters — neglect can lead to safety hazards and costly floor replacements.

Before a strip and wax job, areas should be cleared of furniture, signage placed, and surfaces allowed to fully dry — a process that’s easier with professional coordination.

Checking All Factors in Your Environment

It’s important to remember that you can’t solve slips, trips, and falls by simply attending to the floor type, footwear, and cleanliness.

Your professional cleaners are integral to prevention, but other elements like workplace design, office or facility procedures and practices, and the willingness of staff to clean up if no housekeeping is nearby are also important.

Added Liability Protection & Long-Term Savings

Hiring professional floor cleaning services doesn’t just reduce risk — it saves money. 

Proper stripping and waxing of floors extends the lifespan of your investment, postpones costly repairs, and enhances the building’s appearance.

It also provides liability protection. When there’s documented proof of consistent maintenance, you’re showing due diligence and reducing the chance of injury-related claims.

Keep Your Business Safe from the Ground Up

Preventing slips, trips, and falls starts with smart flooring maintenance. 

At Metropolitan Building Maintenance, we offer expert floor stripping, floor waxing, commercial floor care, and professional hard floor cleaning services across a wide range of industries.

Whether you need help understanding how to care for commercial flooring or need flooring maintenance tips tailored to your space, we’re here to help.

📞 Call us at 778-565-5435 or get in touch online to request a free site walkthrough and quote. 

Let’s build a cleaner, safer workplace together.