Wet-Weather Entrance Controls and Slip Investigations

Rain at an entrance does not by itself establish an unsafe condition. The investigation should examine how water reached the walking surface, how long it remained, and what controls were available to reduce slip risk.

Questions for the site review

Document roof and canopy coverage, door swing, drainage, mats and their placement, mat condition and backing, floor finish, transitions, cleaning practices, warning signs, pedestrian flow, and the path from the exterior to the reported location. Weather history and time-stamped surveillance can help reconstruct exposure.

Connect conditions to the alleged slip

Consider footwear, gait, direction of travel, contamination, surface slope, and whether the claimed mechanism is consistent with the coefficient of friction or other available testing. Testing should be planned to avoid changing the surface and should be described precisely.

A concise opinion distinguishes observed facts, reconstructed conditions, testing limitations, and conclusions supported by the evidence.