experienced injuries from slips and falls showed that approximately three-fourths of the indoor events reported involved water. Since a floor that is slip-resistant when wet will generally be slip resistant when dry, taking measurements of the condition of floors by benchmarking the wet COF — a number or range indicating the slip resis-tance of the floor surface when it is wet or contaminated — is an important starting point to raise safety levels. Measurement Overview There are three steps to slip and fall pre-vention involving wet COF measurement and data collection: 1. Measuring and recording the condition of floors 2. Improving then maintaining that condition to a desired benchmark level through effective treatments and rou-tine care 3. Regularly auditing/documenting the state of floors over time to help ensure and demonstrate the proper degree of due diligence, care and compliance with safety norms. According to Dave Ludwin, director of general liability risk control at CNA Insurance Companies: “It’s important to know what the starting slip resistance is on the floor materials in your facility. These numbers provide a baseline when consid-ering changes to cleaning and floor main-tenance practices. Then, going forward, have flooring COF audited periodically to determine slip resistance.” Slip and fall prevention and COF mea-surement science have greatly progressed as of late. Until recently, the goal was to achieve and maintain a .5 static coefficient of fric-tion (SCOF) on a dry floor surface. However, laboratory and field research have led to new, emerging and more prac-tical benchmarks, since it is now clear that slips occur most often on wet floors in dynamic “in motion” environments. Two product categories have proven effective in raising slip resistance on wet sur-faces and, thus, provide an excellent means to help ensure floor slip safety in general: 1. Surface modifiers that raise traction levels of mineral-containing floors like concrete, ceramic tile, stone, quarry tile, etc. 2. Mop-on cleaner/treatments that raise traction on finished and other floors. ■ Surface modifiers Surface modifiers use chemical pro-cesses to alter the physical properties of an unfinished mineral-containing floor or surface, improving the SCOF. The process creates micro-pores or imperceptible tread patterns, rendering tile and stone floors safer to walk on when wet. Applying a penetrating sealer makes the surface more resistant to soil. Slip resistance lasts several years with proper, regular cleaning, and application should be handled by trained professionals. Surface modifiers are also very effective on porcelain or ceramic tubs and showers. ■ Mop-on cleaners/treatments Mop-on cleaners/treatments are high-performance pH-neutral cleaners with ingredients that raise the slip resistance of finished and other floors. Though recommended dilution ratios must be followed, relatively unskilled employees can apply these water-based treatments for routine cleaning and mainte-nance of slip resistance. Documentation should also include a guide and logbook outlining all standard cleaning procedures, the cleaning materi-als and equipment that are used and the recording of any slip and fall incidents — and the surrounding circumstances — that occur in the building. A written and enforced floor safety policy and procedures guide will improve floor safety, while demonstrating management commitment to prevention. The policy/guide should address com-mon causes of slips and falls, such as poor worker training, lack of weather contingen-cy planning, inconsistent hazard identifica-tion, inappropriate footwear and improper cleaning of floors, among other factors. It should thoroughly detail how to per-form and document wet COF measure-ment, improvement and maintenance of floors. Employees Are Critical Employees responsible for floor care must be properly trained regarding the slip and fall program, which includes establishing safety standards and cleaning procedures. Employees should be familiar with all cleaning products and equipment used and should also understand proper storage of these items. Employee cleaning regimes should include vacuuming, dust mopping and other floor care according to an estab-lished schedule. Mops that are treated with ingredients that could contribute to a slick surface — such as an oil-treated dust mop — should not be used, and employees must under-stand the importance of minimizing floor contaminants. Cleaning procedures and components of the slip and fall prevention program should be reviewed with employees at least on an annual basis. Employees must understand the impor-tant role they play in properly maintain-ing a facility’s floors, just as they should appreciate the importance of all the work they perform. CM Follow Up Testing And Documentation The initial SCOF test should form the basis and reference point for all future record-keeping and follow-up testing. This information should ideally be avail-able both electronically and in hardcopy formats and should be readily accessible. The results of all future slip tests should be added to the existing file the day the tests are performed or shortly thereafter. According to Ludwin, “A walkway audit-ing program can help identify trends within your facility that can result in reduced slip resistance to flooring surfaces. To be effec-tive, the testing should be completed in a consistent, periodic manner and include more than a single set of measurements.” Establishing A Foothold If an existing wet floor’s SCOF demon-strates that it is slippery, consider applying a specialized treatment or product to the surface that increases wet slip resistance. www.cmmonline.com 21
CMM – Archives Nov 2011: 21
