When you think apartment housekeeping, you probably think of jobs like tenants keeping their units clean, the garbage being picked up from the dumpster and the front of the building’s street appeal.
But what about those housekeeping items that, if ignored, could lead to safety issues? Lighting, exits, floors, and stairs, if not properly maintained, could cause injuries in the apartment building. What kind of “housekeeping” is necessary to avoid this type of risk?
Lighting. When tenants need to access their units after dark, is the entry well-lit? Are there lights in the main walkways that are motion activated or are on during evening hours? Is there a preventative maintenance program established to assure burnt out bulbs are promptly attended to?
Exits. Are exits properly identified? Is there a clear understanding of where tenants should go during an evacuation? During winter months, are those exits plowed of snow and treated like the main walkways?
Floors. Slip and falls can happen so easily on wet surfaces. If rain or snow are falling when residents come home from work or being out are the proper measures being taken to assure the floors are kept dry? For example, extra roll-out rugs can minimize moisture on non-carpeted surfaces.
Stairs. Are they properly maintained and well-lit? How effective is the tread system? Are stair rails secure and at a level to assist someone? Is there any type of debris that could cause someone to slip?
The bottom line is that apartment safety starts with standard housekeeping procedures that all tenants should be aware of and all employees should follow. How organized and well maintained is your building. When an insurance inspector comes to your building can you easily show maintenance logs, procedures for evacuation, all of these good habits can lower our insurance premiums?
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