Why Are Cones Required on a Wet Business Floor?

Customer Notification

• Customer notification is an important factor when discussing why cones are required on a wet business floor. Typically the cones are bright colors and printed with words such as "Wet Floor." This informs people that any type of fluid, not just water, may be present on the floor surface. Pedestrians are informed of walkway conditions so they can proceed with caution.
  
  

Company Guidelines

• A number of businesses have developed personal guidelines regarding the use of wet-floor cones. At James Madison University, for example, floor safety guidelines require that cones be used to notify pedestrians of areas being mopped, refinished, shampooed or stripped. Physical barricades are sometimes recommended for added safety. Per institutional guidelines, the cones must remain in place until the area is completely dry. Many other companies have similar guidelines to reduce the possibility of accidents.
  
  

Legal

• Businesses mark wet floors with cones to help prevent injury compensation claims. By law, if a business fails to give proper notification of potentially hazardous conditions, the business is automatically at fault for employee or customer injuries that occur as a result. The owners can find themselves fighting a number of negligence and/or personal injury claims. When business owners are successfully sued, they can lose their business and personal property.
  
  

Insurance

• By placing cones on wet floors, businesses are able to maintain lower insurance premiums. General and professional liability insurance protects businesses against negligence and injury claims made by customers and employees. Millions of dollars in insurance payments are made each year as a result of businesses not clearly marking wet areas.