SAFER FLOORS, LESS SLIPS
The importance of floor level safety in the workplace should not be under-estimated. Despite the many
campaigns and articles generated on the subject of ‘slip prevention in the workplace’, the statistics in
the UK still make ‘concerning reading’ says Chris Stanley, Sales Director – COBA Europe
Statistics published by the Labour
Force Survey and the Health
& Safety Executive for 2016/2017
estimate some 609,000 non-fatal
injuries to workers in the UK, of
which in the region of 29% were
attributed to a slip, trip or fall on
the same level. That means there
were still over 176,600 individuals
who were injured in this way, while
carrying out their work.
All employers have a legal
responsibility to ensure their work
places are safe and fit for purpose. This
starts from the moment an employee,
visitor or supplier enters the premises –
including the car park and any pathways
that falls within the boundary of the
property.
This can only be achieved effectively if
there is continual collaboration between
those responsible for health and safety,
and the facilities management team.
Employees should also be encouraged to
report any potential hazards so gaining
their engagement can be beneficial in
creating the safest working spaces.
Floors need to be level, clean, dry
and free from obstruction so regular
maintenance and good housekeeping is
6 FACILITIES SHOW DAILY JUNE 2018
fundamental to underfoot safety. Certain
areas, such as internal and external
walkways and stairs, may need a more
abrasive ‘anti-slip’ surface for optimum
safety.
Through the provision of safe flooring
surfaces, many slip-related accidents
can be prevented. This involves taking a
holistic view of a building starting at the
front door and adopting a culture of best
practice.
ENTRANCE MATTING
Floor safety starts at the entrance
and regular assessments should be
conducted to monitor the condition
of floor surfaces and floor coverings,
and to ensure they are free of any trip
or slip hazards. This is where wellspecified
entrance matting plays its
part, especially in reducing slip-related
accidents.
As an entrance matting manufacturer,
we see a common pitfall here. All
too often, buildings simply do not
have sufficient entrance matting, and
by ‘sufficient’ we are talking about
the length of matting. For optimum
performance, we recommend a
minimum of 3-4m for low pedestrian
flow, through to 9-12m in length for
buildings subjected to high volume
footfall.
When carpet entrance matting
becomes heavily soiled, or the pile
flattened, it ceases to do its job
effectively. Worse still, if it is wearing
thin or has become uneven, it can be a
potential trip hazard. Regular cleaning
and maintenance is the key to longevity
and functionality.
At such a time when entrance matting
needs to be replaced in a main entrance
area, alternative access should be
arranged, or the installation carried out
overnight to minimise disruption. It can
be a headache when a main entrance
becomes out of bounds. Thankfully,
there are many entrance matting
systems designed for quick installation
to minimise down-time, so always
speak to the manufacturer or flooring
contractor about the options.
Entrance matting materials have
different characteristics when it comes
to preventing the ingress of dirt and
moisture. Similarly, some mats are
designed specifically for outdoor use,
while others can only be used inside.
Analysing the characteristics of
matting materials may seem rather
mundane but it can make all the
difference to whether it does its job
properly. It’s not just about floor
protection, entrance matting can be
safety critical when we talk about
preventing moisture being walked into
a building. Again, it’s a good idea to
seek advice from the manufacturer or
supplier.
WORKPLACE MATTING
Slips of course don’t just happen at
the entrance. Depending on the type
of business, there is the potential for
slipping in other areas. Where there is
water, oil, grease or chemical spillage,
there is a danger.
It’s not just wet floors that cause slips.
Grit and loose debris, such as swarf,
can be lethal if left unattended or not
contained. Factory floors, kitchens and
catering environments, changing rooms
are notorious hotspots for all types of
slips.
Many such accidents can be prevented
altogether with the right anti-slip
flooring or matting in place. Again,
different matting materials have
different properties, with some more
prone to degradation when in contact
with certain contaminants, such as
chemicals, oils or grease. Mats with
open holed surface designs are generally
more suited to wet areas, where as those
with solid surfaces work better in dry
environments.
Again, regular cleaning and
maintenance is essential for optimum
performance.
TECHNOLOGY IN FLOORING
At COBA Europe, we have developed
some applications for download on
phones and tablets to help select the
right matting or flooring for a specific
environment. Mats In Mind was launched
in 2017, designed for workplace matting
selection, while Entrance Architect is
being launched at Facilities Show 2018,
as a handy ‘decision-making’ tool for
entrance matting specification. Stand
M640. www.cobaeurope.com
FACILITIES SHOW DAILY FMJ.CO.UK
/www.cobaeurope.com