FEATURE HEALTH & SAFETY
SAFER FLOORS YEAR ROUND I
t is worth remembering that cleaner floors are safer floors. Last year around
7,600 people experienced slips, trips and same-level falls in the workplace resulting in serious injuries such as broken bones. Over 13,000 people had similar accidents that caused them to take at least seven days off work. These injuries are still among the most common in the workplace and the consequences can be severe for all involved: they cause suffering to the injured, disruption for employers and in extreme cases legal action against those held responsible. One of the biggest factors in these
accidents is contamination on floors and this is more likely during winter when rain and snow outside increase the risk of dirt and water being brought inside. It follows that improved cleaning and
floor care can play significant role in reducing the risk of slip and trip accidents. In most settings the area immediately inside the entrance will be at biggest risk because everyone using the building will pass through. All busy areas should be cleaned routinely and regularly during the day to keep them clean. Puddles and spills should ideally be removed as soon as they occur. A mop and bucket kept close at hand might be useful but this method tends to spread contaminants over a wider area and leave a thin film of liquid that actually increases the overall risk. Instead, the latest-generation compact
mains or battery-powered scrubber driers will be faster, more effective and leave the floor dry and ready to use again right away. In practice, good floorcare should be practised all year round. In addition to creating a safer environment there are further good reasons for keeping floors
Injuries from slips, trips and falls are common in the workplace and the consequences can be severe. Tinaz Ranina of Diverseycare discusses how they can be minimised with safer floors
annual deep cleaning is advised. The choice of floorcare products, tools and equipment can bewilder even the most experienced cleaning professional. Introducing innovations can often save time and money. Microfibre cloths and mops are an efficient alternative to mop- and-bucket cleaning that enable new ways of cleaning floors and other surfaces, with better results, improved hygiene and reduced reliance on chemicals to promote simpler and sustainable processes.
clean. Studies in the retail, food service, hospitality and cleaning sectors have shown that customers and employees give favourable feedback and ratings when they like the appearance of the buildings they use. Floors are a big part of this. Regular cleaning will maintain and can even improve the appearance of any area by removing dirt and debris that can cause deterioration. Particular attention should be paid to entrance areas on the basis that first impressions count and communal spaces because they are likely to be busy. A further reason to maintain floors
properly is protection of important assets. Routine tasks undertaken at the correct intervals will protect the floor and delay or eliminate the need for expensive remedial and replacement work. This is true for all types of floor including carpets. With these for example, the three-stage regime of daily vacuum cleaning, intermittent cleaning every quarter and six-monthly or
Regular cleaning will maintain and can even improve the appearance of any area by removing dirt and debris that can cause deterioration
ADVANCED FLOORCARE FORMULATIONS Advanced floorcare formulations for use with mops, applicators and machines can replace traditional products to reduce the number of coatings and minimise or even eliminate the need for intermittent stripping. Carpet machines are available which combine intermittent, encapsulation and deep cleaning capabilities for the first time. The latest scrubber driers including robots present new possibilities in terms of speed, efficiency and results. These can be used with brushes and pads for every type of floor. By choosing the best solutions for their particular circumstances cleaning teams can make their floors safer and look better and last for longer, often by using simpler and safer processes that save time and money. Equipment and product suppliers should be able to advise on the right combination of equipment, products and processes for each type of floor. The best will have a product for every situation.
Diverseycare T: 0800 525525
www.sealedair.com/diverseycare
INDUSTRY ADVISED TO DO MORE TO PROTECT AIR TOOL USERS
Improperly installed and inferior quality air hoses pose a danger to users, according to calibration specialist Trescal. The advice has been issued to heighten awareness among manufacturers regarding the potential risks associated with the use of air tools on production, assembly and repair operations and associated risk for operators to urge organisations to do more to protect personnel. Many industrial air tools are fitted with unsuitable, lower quality or the wrong diameter air hoses and there may be inadequate checks and validates. This can lead to a risk of injury to operators or damage to components by the air hose working loose. “Air tools should be fitted with compliant air hoses that comply with UK legislation and industry specifications” says programmes manager John Buckley. “However, the fitting is often carried out by end users perform themselves during installation and often insufficient consideration given to whether the correct hose is being used or the quality of the attachment which can result in the line coming off during operation or vibration injury due to over or under flow of air pressure.”
Trescal T: 01252 533 300 12 FEBRUARY 2017 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
www.trescal.com/en
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