Did you know that slips are the most common cause of workplace accidents? In fact, they cause over a third of all accidents according to HSE. Not only can slips and trips cause nasty injuries, they can be costly and can result in lost personnel and productivity if the victim is one of your employees.
How to reduce slips
Slips and trips can be so easily avoided by following some basic best practices. Here are our 6 top tips for reducing slips in your business:
1. Conduct a risk assessment ? as a business, you have a legal obligation to conduct regular risk assessments on your floors. Are you following enough precautions to stop people from hurting themselves on your premises?
2. Avoid contamination ? contamination of floors such as spillages and dirt are one of the most common causes of slips. You can keep wet floors to a minimum with entrance mats and reduce slip risks by cleaning (and drying) high traffic areas daily. Don?t forget to highlight any spillages and wet floors with wet floor signs and clean and dry them promptly.
3. Educate employees ? ensure your employees are educated on the importance of health and safety and act responsibly in the workplace. Encourage a ?see it, sort it? attitude and ensure that staff have access to and know how to properly use mops, paper towels, or signs to reduce slip risk. Why not think about including this in your welcome tour for new starters?
4. Keep floors maintained ? are your tiles loose or chipped? Is your lino coming up at the corners? Perhaps your wooden flooring is worn in places? It?s important to make sure your flooring is well maintained and fit for purpose at all times. If it?s showing signs of wear and tear then it?s time to think about replacing it, before an accident occurs.
5. Consider your environment ? environmental factors such as lighting can play a large role in slips. Bright spotlights on large shiny tiles can create a glare and hide puddles; similarly not enough lighting can do the same.
6. Be proactive – above all, be proactive and don?t wait for slips to happen before seeking professional advice. Regular slip testing by qualified experts will ensure your floors meet expected standards and will also help protect your employees and the general public from injury and yourselves from potential compensation claims.
Whilst it won?t be possible to eliminate every slip risk you can certainly try and reduce them by following some of the above best practises.
The key to reducing slips is to act before they occur by assessing your floors for potential slips and implementing practical measures to reduce them. Simple actions such as introducing mats to your entrances, educating employees and conducting regular maintenance and cleaning can make all the difference.
Pendulum Slip Testing
Pendulum slip testing is a method used to determine the slip resistance of a surface, such as flooring or pavement. A pendulum tester is used to simulate the motion of a foot slipping on the surface, and the results are measured in terms of the surface’s coefficient of friction (COF).
The COF is a measurement of the resistance of the surface to slip, and it is expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A higher COF indicates a more slip-resistant surface, while a lower COF indicates a surface that is more likely to cause slips and falls.
Pendulum slip testing is commonly used in industries such as construction, transportation, and healthcare to ensure the safety of workers and customers. By testing the slip resistance of surfaces, potential hazards can be identified and addressed before accidents occur.