FEATURE INDUSTRIAL FLOORING
PREVENTING WINTER slips and falls in the workplace
Good maintenance of surfaces both inside and out is critical to help eliminate hazards and prevent injuries Chris Budd of Watco offers advice on staying safe during the winter months
S
lip and fall accidents are one of the top causes of injuries in the workplace
and far more prevalent in winter months. The first step is to make a plan and assess your workplace risk. An effective approach is to start outdoors and work your way inside. Identify outdoor areas that will be used by pedestrians and are most likely to be affected by snow and ice. Examples include outdoor steps, pavements, driveways, ramps and car parks. Look for anything that could pose a possible hazard. Once you have determined the potential problem areas outside put your plan into place. Cover walkways if possible to prevent snow from accumulating or ice forming, place warning cones or signs, keep adequate supplies of snow and ice removal tools in readily accessible areas and shovel and apply ice melt as often as necessary to keep walking areas clear and slip-free.
OVERHEAD RISK Often forgotten is the overhead risk from falling ice and melting snow on the roof. If the building has a flat roof it is easy enough to simply shovel the rooftop. Because the roof may be slippery we suggest Roof Walkway Matting. With its anti slip tread and self-
draining open grid system it creates a safe walkway on flat roofs in any weather. If the roof is sloped the safest way to remove ice and snow is with a snow rake. Making sure that you are standing at a safe distance away on the ground (not on the roof) pull off the snow with a long-handled roof rake.
UNDERFOOT RISK Asphalt and tarmac poses an increased risk because the ice tends to be invisible on the dark surface. One preventative measure is adding Anti Slip Traffic Paint to any pedestrian walkways. Watco’s paint provides a textured non-slip surface, is available in multiple colours and can be used on concrete or asphalt surfaces. GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) is an excellent winter safety product available in many different styles ie sheets, treads and step covers so it will fit virtually any need you have. GRP is
one of the best forms of slip-resistance you can apply to your workplace for winter walking safety and it's great for external and internal applications. GRP is easy to install on steps or
walkways; simply screw and glue. It provides instant safety and can be installed at any temperature! Watco’s Roof Walkway Matting works well on pedestrian walkways indoors or out and is stable in hurricane-force winds (tested in wind conditions up to 94mph).
FIRST AID FOR FACTORY FLOORS
Watco Protect is a range of products that will protect, maintain and extend the lifetime of floorings, leaving them looking new for longer. Over the years Watco has researched and extended its product range to allow a diverse range of industries to repair, seal and paint their flooring, maintaining a safe, functional workplace while creating an attractive environment. First aid for floors: the extensive Protect range contains floor care products and absorbents for clearing up potentially harmful spillages. From mopping up minor spills to creating barriers to contain larger volumes, Watco Protect has a product that will deal with the problem. The new Spill Kit Bags will contain everything for fast, effective action against a variety of spills. A number of the products come in a new tablet format which are low foaming, convenient and easy to use and save on storage space (samples available).
Constantly inspect potential problem areas as the cold season continues
EMERGENCY REPAIRS If you need to make repairs in the cold winter months Watco’s Road Patch Rapid is ideal for immediate pothole repair and can be applied from -20°C. If you want to make repairs at low temperatures for concrete both inside and out we recommend Concrex Cold Set. It is ideal for cold rooms and temperatures between 0°C and 10°C. Concrex Cold Set will harden at low temperatures where conventional mortar will not.
INDOOR MAINTENANCE Once you have secured the outside of the building it is time to move inside. Keep your floors clean, dry and free of obstructions. Limit walking to designated walkways as much as possible. Concrete will become extremely
slippery when wet; an anti-slip coating will help prevent slips while protecting floors from contaminants. Watco’s Safety Coat Plus anti-slip floor coating has a very coarse formula for extreme traction. It is suitable for concrete, wood or metal, internally and externally and is available in a Cold Cure version which can be applied at temperatures as low as 0°C. This coating combines the toughness required to withstand forklift traffic with anti slip properties, making it an ideal flooring solution for industrial environments. Place high quality, water trap mats in entrances and walkways subject to water or snow accumulation. Anti-fatigue mats will decrease the risk of slips and provide ergonomic support for the workforce.
CONSTANT INSPECTION Constantly inspect for problem areas as the winter season continues. Keeping the premises in top condition is an essential part of running any successful business. You and your colleagues deserve a workplace that provides winter walking safety. With prevention and maintenance you can help reduce the risk of someone getting injired from slipping and falling on your property.
Watco T: 01483 791465
www.watco.co.uk
20 DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT / FACTORYEQUIPMENT
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