Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Whether your business is looking to work with another company in southern Florida, or you are a new employee starting a position at a business, or you will be interacting with an organization for some other reason, there are lots of situations where you need to effectively determine how safe a business is. For example, if you will be working with a southern Florida supplier, you may need to ensure that they are safe so your company will be less likely to face litigation. If you’re a new employee, you want to make sure your new employers are taking your safety seriously.
No matter what your reasons for investigating, there are several ways to tell whether a business is safe:
1) Contact a professional association, the Better Business Bureau, and other organizations.
Many organizations keep track of safety violations, complaints, and other issues. The Better Business Bureau, for example, keeps track of complaints made against businesses as well as whether these complaints have been resolved. Florida Health can help you verify the licenses and records of doctors in the state and there are other professional associations governing other industries.
2) Have a look around.
Visit a business during regular hours. Take a look around. Do you see obvious safety violations – such as rickety shelves loaded with heavy objects, uneven flooring, and other issues? Does everything seem well lit, properly maintained, and safe?
3) Ask about safety practices.
Companies who are serious about safety are happy to discuss their practices with you. They’re proud of what they do and have considered safety carefully. Companies with written policies that are regularly reviewed and updated as well as safety training, for example, show a dedication to best practices. While this doesn’t rule out accidents, it can help prevent many workplace accidents in Homestead and other communities.
4) Check online.
Online reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt. However, checking online for a business can help you see whether past safety violations have been ported in the media or whether others have expressed their concerns about safety or other issues. While you should never use online checks alone, because they can be inaccurate, they can help you get an overall picture of safety at a specific organization.
5) Ask for references.
If your company will be doing business with a local organization, you may be able to ask for references and to speak to others who have worked with the same group. When checking references, you can ask about safety as well as other issues.
6) Hire an investigator.
Another option is to work with an investigation professional who can research any legal issues, financial problems, and safety citations of a company. While more of an investment, this can be an important step if you are entering into a contract with a company.
Have you been injured by an unsafe business? Contact a personal injury attorney in Homestead or your South Florida community today by contacting Flaxman Law Group. Our legal team has more than 60 years of combined experience and we’d be happy to sit down with you in a free, confidential, and no obligation consultation to review your situation.