Fall is a beautiful season in north Texas. As the cool, crisp air makes its way south to engulf the Metroplex in a “merry and bright” mood, attentions turn to celebrating the upcoming holidays with loved ones near and far. Depending on which sector you are in, you may be entering either the busy season or the slow season. Educational facilities will soon have quiet halls as students go on break. Places of business will in the near future be bustling with that extra activity that seems to accompany holidays. Manufacturing facilities will be keeping up with increased demands. Places of worship will prepare to celebrate special services with their congregations.
No matter what sector your facility serves, it is essential that each facility remain clean. Cleanliness matters for far more than appearances’ sake. When the red oaks and other deciduous trees begin to lose their leaves, a seasonal slipping hazard becomes present in your facility. This year, in particular, it seems that there is an extra threat besides leaves — acorns!
I pulled up to a friend’s house last week for a visit. I’m an able-bodied individual but no sooner had I exited my vehicle when I became acutely aware that I was at extreme risk for an embarrassing and uncomfortable fall… my friend’s driveway was positively covered in acorns. After this incident, I couldn’t help but notice that many of the trees in the area were shedding an overabundance of acorns as well. Some speculate that this is due to the unusual drought of this past summer. Others attribute it to a “mast seeding event,” which happens every few years and results in an abundant acorn crop.
Either way, facilities managers take note — acorns present an extreme fall hazard.
To ensure a fall-risk-free fall, it should be your objective this time of year to keep leaves (and acorns!) away from your building entrances and out of lobbies. The hats of acorns, in particular, are apt to stick to shoes with rough tread and dislodge further in the building. For an unsuspecting passerby — especially one who may not be in such sturdy shoes — even a lone acorn fragment can spell disaster.
Sonlight Cleaning Services provides daily janitorial commercial cleaning services for midsize to large facilities in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. We also offer day porter services for facilities with high foot traffic throughout the day. Our team will address the challenge of leaves and debris that enter your facility this time of year. Our client care specialists will help you create a practical care plan to keep your entrances, lobbies, and walkways free of the debris that can create a fall-hazard in your building.
Leave the falling to the leaves and leave the cleaning to Sonlight!
By Laura Pulliam
