07/04/11
Slip
Resistance Tests Should Be Carried Out Proactively
There are many safety regulations that have to be considered by a company
but the ones involving the conditions of floor surfaces are very important.
These regulations categorically state that there is a need to ensure
the floor is not so slippy that it could endanger people’s safety.
This means it is important for a company to determine how slippy their
floor surface may be and the best way to do this is to have a slip resistance test carried out on the premises.
Although most people will think that the integrity of a floor may be
most at risk from a spillage or wet weather conditions being traipsed
into the building, there are many reasons why a floor could become slippy.
One of the aspects a slip resistance
test will seek to examine is the cleaning regimes and products used
to maintain the floor. Certain detergent products can cause a floor
to become slippy, either on its own or when other liquids or materials
come into contact with it. This can be something that is easily overlooked
by a firm so this test is hugely important in ensuring that the risk
of slipping is minimised.
Another aspect that may have an impact on the condition of the tiles
could be any sealant placed over the floor surface to maintain their
good condition. Many firms spend a lot of money on their flooring and
want to preserve the quality and nature of the floor, which leads many
to cover them with a sealant product. It is important to carry out a
slip resistance test on any treated
floor to ensure that the integrity of the floor has not been compromised
by this new agent. Although the sealant may ensure the floor looks great
for many years to come, if it lowers the quality of the grip on the
floor, the firm could regret their actions.
Although there is an obvious need to carry outslip resistance tests inside a building or property, firms should be
aware that slip assessment tests can also be carried out, outside their
building. If there is a large property footprint, the company may have
an extended duty of care to their staff and customers to ensure that
there are no areas on the firm’s land where slips may occur. This
is especially true for steps, ramps or any treated path or walkway leading
to the premises.
A slip resistance test can be carried
out after an accident occurred to determine if there was a level of
blame to be placed on the firm but it makes sense to carry out these
tests proactively. These tests can be arranged for a moderate fee but
the potential savings from having a test and resolving any issue may
save untold sums for a company. It is always best to be proactive when
it comes to health and safety and ensuring the integrity of paths, walkways
and corridors is something that every firm should have high on their
list of priorities.
Return
to News
Further
information
Pendulum
testing - Surface roughness
- Slips Potential Model - Slip
testing methods - HSE
slips site - Grip Potential Ltd
|
