Lawsuits are the last thing any business wants to deal with on top of all the challenges associated with running a business. However, they can happen in a range of situations. Sometimes, lawsuits relate to customer safety. 

If customers are injured on your business premises, they might file slip and fall lawsuits, potentially seeing you liable for all their related costs. In order to keep you safe from such potential lawsuits, we have curated this informative guide for you. 

Make sure to read it till the end and gain a comprehensive idea about consumer safety. So, let’s get started…

Why Is Consumer Safety Important?

The world that we live in today is truly uncertain. With all the events that took place in the past decades, safety has become an utmost priority. At present, businesses are functioning in a climate of crisis. As such, one of the most important considerations for businesses is customer safety. 

Safety First

We are fortunate enough to have social media by our side that keeps us informed. But it’s also limited when it comes to the quick spreading of bad news. The Collaborative approach towards crises asks for safety and security. 

When a company offers safety to its consumers, they feel valued and are most likely to exist in the long run. And let’s admit it: who doesn’t like to have repeated customers and more lucrative settlements? 

Acquiring Trust

It is not adequate to simply provide a sense of security. Consumer trust is gained only after you give tangible, real proof of their safety. More consumers nowadays expect safety, like data security and breaches of all kinds, which can sever that situation.

But data security is not the only type we are talking about. Customers want to feel safe from physical injuries, too, at your workplace. In order to gain the trust of your repetitive clients, you must aim to have a clean, organized, and decluttered organization.

5 Ways To Keep Your Customers Safe And Sound

While customer safety might be the last thing on your mind, it should be your priority. If you’re not keeping your customers as safe as you could be, consider taking these actions immediately:

Eliminate Slip And Fall Hazards

The last thing you want is for a customer to experience a slip, trip, and fall accident in your store. If you haven’t put plans in place to eliminate slip and fall hazards, now might be the right time to do so. Identify and replace problematic flooring like frayed carpet and loose and broken tiles. It’s also important to create procedures for slippery flooring, such as putting signs up when there are spills or when cleaning is underway.

Get Liability Insurance

While having liability insurance doesn’t directly relate to keeping your customers safe, it’s in the same ballpark. Having liability insurance ensures you don’t have to bear full responsibility for the cost of legal action if a customer or employee files a slip-and-fall lawsuit against you. Liability insurance can often form part of a larger business insurance package, which can also protect you from theft and damage.

Establish Security Measures

Protecting your customers isn’t always about trip and fall hazards. They can be at risk of harm due to the actions of others, such as assault and armed robbery. In that case, review your current security measures and see if you can do more to protect your customers. At a minimum, ensure your business has security cameras. You might also install phones and silent alarms in easy-to-reach locations. If your business is high-risk, such as a bank, you might even look at security personnel and metal detectors.

Prioritize Preventative Maintenance

Like homes, commercial premises can succumb to wear and tear. Building materials do wear out after being used and interacted with every day. Ensure your premises are safe for employees and customers by prioritizing preventative maintenance. After all, something as simple as a wobbly railing can be a recipe for disaster for an unsuspecting customer. Consider creating a schedule for checking and repairing various parts of your building, such as railings, stairs, shelves, and entry points.

Screen Employees

Security measures in your business can protect against outside threats. However, threats aren’t always external. Members of your own team might pose a risk to your customers. According to The Violence Project, over 30% of all mass shootings recorded between 1966 and 2021 were workplace-related.

Screening employees is not guaranteed protection, but it might provide you with an additional security measure for your employees and customers. Consider undertaking background checks and providing mental wellness initiatives.

What Happens When An Agency Falls Short Of Maintaining Consumer Safety?

There are tons of examples on the Internet where poor customer service has tarnished a business entirely. But, in order to give you a clear idea, let me give you a quick look into what happens when an agency misses out on consumer safety measures:

Tarnished Reputation

Whether you have a brick-and-mortar or online store, poor customer service experience might have serious consequences for your reputation. Customers who are angry often vent all their frustrations online in the form of negative comments and reviews.

Employee Loss

If a few employees are not fulfilling their duties, others have to pick up their slack. This eventually results in anger and resentment from employees who have to do extra work. Hence, they will get tired of these duties easily and decide to quit. This is eventually a huge loss to the organization. 

Loss Of Consumers

A poor consumer safety plan will eventually result in losing out all your clients. They will never return back if they have a feeling of insecurity in your workplace. As such, you have to give up on both your existing and new customers. 

Conclusion

Business owners don’t go out of their way to compromise people’s safety. However, small actions or inactions can result in danger. If you haven’t yet prioritized customer safety, now might be the right time to take some of these critical actions.

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