How to Avoid Door-Smacked Faces and Potential Lawsuits
Every year, dozens of people are injured in door-related injuries. While many of these injuries are minor, some can result in serious falls and broken bones. It’s important for offices, businesses, restaurants and homes to have doors that minimize the risk of a serious accident.
Restaurants experience one of the highest rates of door-related injuries. Since waiters continually travel back and forth between a kitchen and a dining area, there is a very high risk that a door can be opened into one’s face. This can cause dropped trays, lost food, high payroll costs and a huge mess.
One of the best ways to prevent door-smacked faces and other injuries is through the installation of a door viewing panel. This will help one see who is on the other side of a door. Even better, it’s a good idea to install two one way doors in a restaurant. Everyone leaving the kitchen and entering the dining room will be required to use one door, and everyone leaving the dining area and entering the kitchen will be required to use another door.
There are also some specialized devices that can provide a 180 degree view of the other side of a door. These can be an excellent way to make sure that no one is approaching the other side of a door. Like a fish eye lens, these can provide individuals with a wide viewing area.
It’s also a good idea to install warning marks on the floor beneath an area where a door opens outward. This can help people understand that they may be at risk for a door-smacked face if they remain in that location. In addition, it’s a good idea to design an area to minimize the risk of these types of accidents. For example, it’s a good idea to have a door at least four feet away from a hallway or walking area. Since the door will not open into the hallway or walking area, there will be a decreased risk of serious accidents.
In some cases, it may be possible to eliminate all doors in a building. Many modern facilities use a false wall to hide a kitchen, bathroom or other semi-private area. To enter this area, an individual will have to walk around the side of a wall. In addition, there are some types of paint that can minimize noise and sound pollution from different areas in a building.
Door-smacked faces can be a serious liability for many businesses and organizations. By incorporating different techniques to minimize the risk of an accident, a building owner can improve safety and working conditions.
Peter Wendt is a writer and researcher working out of the great state of Texas. He has been writing about this subject for several years, and he finds that a great resource is the website at http://www.doors4home.com/.