There is a lot to like about fall in Ohio: cooler temperatures, changing leaves, football, cider and pumpkin-flavored just about everything.

But fall also brings something less enjoyable: more opportunities to slip, trip and fall.

Wet leaves can be surprisingly slick. Rain makes sidewalks and loading docks slippery. Earlier sunsets mean workers may arrive or leave in the dark. And before we know it, frost and ice will join the party.

At The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC, we spend a lot of time helping people after they have been injured at work. We'd much rather see workers avoid the injury in the first place.

🍁 Watch Your Step — On AND Going Into the Job

Falls don't just happen while someone is operating machinery or working on a construction site. They can happen walking across a parking lot, climbing stairs, stepping onto a loading dock or simply making your way from the car to the front door.

A few simple habits can help:

• Slow down. Saving 30 seconds isn't worth spending weeks recovering from an injury.
• Watch for wet leaves. They can be almost as slippery as ice.
• Use handrails. They're there for a reason.
• Wear appropriate footwear, especially as frost and snow arrive.
• Keep walkways clear. Leaves, cords, tools and debris can quickly become trip hazards.
• Report hazards. If you see a dangerous condition at work, tell someone before you or a coworker finds it the hard way.
• Be especially careful in parking lots. Uneven pavement, potholes, curbs, poor lighting, leaves, rain, snow and ice can all create hazards.

🚗 What If You Fall in the Parking Lot Before or Leaving Work?

This is where Ohio workers' compensation law gets interesting.

People often hear that injuries while simply traveling to or from work generally aren't covered because of Ohio's “coming-and-going rule.” That's true as a starting point for many fixed-situs employees but it isn't the end of the story.

Ohio courts recognize a “zone of employment” exception. An employer-owned or controlled parking lot that employees use to enter or leave work can fall within that zone. Ohio courts also look at factors such as whether the employer required employees to park in a particular lot or area and the employer's control over that parking area.

That distinction matters. Ohio courts have also rejected claims where the employer happened to own a parking lot but the worker wasn't required to park there and had other parking options.

So, put simply: If you fall in your employer's parking lot or a parking area where your employer requires you to park the fact that you haven't punched the clock yet does not automatically mean you don't have an Ohio workers' compensation claim.

As with most things in workers' compensation, the particular facts matter.

🍂 Enjoy the Season Just Watch Where You're Walking

Ohio fall weather can change quickly. Sunshine in the afternoon can become wet leaves, darkness and frost before you know it.

So, enjoy the colors. Enjoy football, whether it is Buckeyes, Wolverines, Rockets, Browns, Lions or Kurt’s favorite the Bengals.

Enjoy the cider, there are some amazing places to get it in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

Just try to keep the fall in the season and not in your workday.

And if you are injured going into work, while working, or leaving work, don't assume you aren't covered simply because someone tells you, “But you weren't on the clock.”

For more than three decades, The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC has helped Ohio's injured workers understand their rights.

This is general information about Ohio law, not legal advice. Whether a particular injury is compensable depends on the specific facts.

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