CM/Spotlight: Safety PREVENTING Slips And Falls By: Kenneth Fisher Mastering wet coefficient of friction (COF) measurement is vital in providing hard floor slip resistance. W Kenneth Fisher is an advisor to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) and serves on the B-101.1 Committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which recently estab-lished a test method for measuring wet static coefficient of friction of common hard floor materials. He is chairman of a sub-committee (ANSI B-101.2), which is develop-ing a standard for chemicals and treatments for hard tile surfaces and also sits on the ANSI B101.3 committee establishing dynamic COF guidelines. He served on ASTM’s F-15 Committee dealing with slip and fall issues. Fisher can be reached at [email protected] or 1-859-493-0701. Why do slip, trip and fall accidents occur? Technically speaking, a slip occurs when the coefficient of friction (COF) between the shoe material and the walking surface does not provide sufficient resistance to counteract the forward, resultant forces at the point of contact. This happens most commonly on wet floors or surfaces because water — unlike air — does not easily compress and, when trapped between shoe and floor, can form a continuous film leading to hydroplaning. Of course, hydroplaning is more common in environments where water is regularly present, such as entranceways during inclement weather, shower rooms, lobbies and kitchens or food ser-vice areas. According to the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), a study of workers at DOE facilities who for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Slip And Fall . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Safety . Understanding the level of traction on your flooring is valuable in determining proper care techniques. 20 Image courtesy of Nu-Safe Floor Solutions Inc.
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