The smooth operation of a business requires proper planning, efficient management, qualified staff member and protection against losses and perils that can arise against the establishment. While a business owner may have proper planning but hazards and losses are sometimes inevitable. Therefore, it is mandatory for Canadian Businesses to carry an adequate insurance policy that will have them covered should a professional or general liability claim arise. Claims against businesses may damage their reputation and hinder its ability to operate smoothly. Third parties may have a claim against a business due to a harm caused by a business’s environment, malpractice, negligence, mistreatment or a product carried by the business. Seeking protection from all these areas will require the input of a qualified professional or consultant. While it is humanly impossible to avoid losses and perils but a good prevention plan starts with adequate resources and planning.
Canada is often synonym with cold and snow. It is therefore no surprise that slip and falls related to snow and ice are a leading cause of injuries during the cold Canadian months. To put things into perspective, consider the following statistics:
Injuries in Canada
According to Statistics Canada, 17 691 individuals died in 2018 due to unintentional and intentional injuries outside of of medical complications.
In Canada, in 2018-2019
– There were 225 208 injury-related hospitalizations (excluding medical complications).
– Unintentional injuries were the 8th leading cause of hospitalizations among all ages.
– Falls were the leading cause of injury hospitalization among all ages
– The cost of injury in Canada is estimated to represent and economic burden of $26.8 billion in 2010.
A vast number of these unintentional injuries arise from un-safe work environment or commercial space. Slip and falls arising from ice and snow represent a huge chunk in these statistics.
The CBC network reports that falls on ice seriously injure Albertans at triple the rate of people in Ontario. The province has seen an average of 42.3 hospitalizations per 100 000 people between 2011-2016 (Statistics Canada). These numbers represent the second highest in the country, right behind Saskatchewan.
