Why Businesses Should Prioritize Door Safety Checks
Business owners face numerous responsibilities, but one often overlooked area is door safety. It may seem like a minor concern, but door safety plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of both customers and employees when they enter your business. Businesses that prioritize door safety checks can help make everyone feel secure when entering, especially for automatic doors that have more complex mechanical designs.
The Hidden Cost of Neglecting Door Safety
Businesses need safe doors for clients and customers to enter. Without functioning doors, you’re cut off from your clients and can lose money. Along with these possibilities, accessible doors allow a wider range of people to enter your business easily and explore what you have to offer.
Financial Impact
Malfunctioning doors can lead to injuries that not only damage your reputation but also cost you money. Workers and customers would need compensation for accidental door damage, which could cost up to $40,000.
Beyond immediate medical costs, you’ll face potential lawsuits, insurance premium increases, and lost productivity while dealing with the aftermath. Routine maintenance is also more cost-effective than emergency repairs; therefore, your business should focus on automatic door safety inspections to prevent the extra expense of sudden maintenance.
Legal Liability
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to maintain accessible entrances. Non-compliant doors can result in federal lawsuits and fines. Along with meeting the legal requirements, promoting accessibility in the workplace and business can attract more customers and employees.
Insurance providers may also avoid covering incidents that occur due to negligent maintenance. They increasingly scrutinize maintenance records when processing claims, and poor door maintenance can result in voided coverage.
Creating Your Safety Inspection Schedule
Consistent monitoring can help you see issues before they become problems. Creating a schedule to examine the doors in your business can help prevent small issues from becoming major problems.
Monthly Quick Checks
Walk through your facility and operate every door. Listen for unusual sounds, feel for resistance or binding, and observe the door’s movement pattern. This inspection can indicate minor issues that you should address quickly.
Always test emergency exits by pressing panic bars and verifying smooth operation. Never prop these doors open or turn off safety features, as this can cause problems in the event of an actual emergency.
Quarterly Professional Inspections
Certified technicians can inspect automatic door systems better than anyone. Hire them about once a quarter to examine your doors for any minor problems that you may not notice during monthly checks.
Security vulnerabilities can also present a problem, so hire a locksmith if you want to ensure security on manual doors. They can identify issues before they cause lockouts or security breaches.
Final Thoughts
Prioritizing door safety checks is a crucial aspect that every business should focus on. You should make door safety a regular part of business operations, which can benefit your customers, employees, and even your bottom line. Take control of your door maintenance today and protect your business from preventable risks tomorrow.
