Don’t Fall Victim To Trip Hazards On Your Property
Don’t Fall Victim To Trip Hazards On Your Property
Unexpected variations in the elevation of the surface along walkways and sidewalks are potential trip hazards and are usually taken seriously by property managers.
Studies have shown that small inconsistencies can be most dangerous because of the low probability of a pedestrian detecting them. This is because the visual field of a person walking is always moving and dynamically changing. Pedestrians typically scan ahead in the direction of their travel—not directly down in front of their feet.
Performing regular inspections of the walkways and sidewalks around your buildings is one way to ensure they’re performing as intended. While reviewing these areas, you can also be on the lookout for factors that contribute to compromising the smoothness of your concrete. These include:
· Tree Roots – Tree roots growing from landscaping near walkways can cause the surfaces to buckle and crack.
· Trapped Water – Sidewalks showing the beginnings of depressions, reverse-cross slopes or other indentations may create depressions that trap silt and water making for a potential slip and trip hazard.
· Cracked Concrete – Fragments of concrete or asphalt separated from the surface of the walkway can create rough, uneven spots.
· Structural Movement - Some regions are more prone to the same shifting soil that causes damage to foundations. Whether it’s heaved slabs, step separation or paver irregularities, these changes in the surface of your walkways directly affect the safety of pedestrians.
It’s recommended that if you discover areas along your walkways that are compromised, you should alert pedestrians immediately. You can accomplish this with warning signs and/or closing the route until repairs can be made.
There are several companies that specialize in sidewalk leveling. In addition, most asphalt/concrete companies also offer these services.
Enlisting a fully-insured professional to help bring your walkways and sidewalks up to par is the best way to know the job will be done right and in a timely manner.
The sooner you get everything “leveled-out” again at your community, the sooner you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing those on foot are getting from "Point A to Point B" on your property as safely as possible.
