FLOORING FLOOR IT
The cost of slips and falls to UK businesses can spiral into hundreds of millions. James White, Managing Director of Denis Rawlins Ltd, tells us how to reduce risk with a rapid response to fl oorcare issues.
UK businesses are out of pocket to the tune of around £500m a year due to direct or associated costs of slips and falls on their premises.
A customer takes a tumble in a wet entrance to a restaurant, or an operative skids over on an oily patch on a busy production line. Whatever the cause, contaminated fl oors are a health hazard for the individual and very expensive for the business.
The NHS is suffering too. The cost of treating injuries resulting from slips and falls hovers around the £115m a year mark.
Let’s not forget the cost to the victim. Apart from the initial injury and pain, they may also be dealing with loss of earnings and the associated worry and stress. So, despite the negative impact that slips and falls can have, why do so many businesses see them as inevitable?
In reality, many of these kinds of accidents are avoidable. Tweaks to policy and cleaning practices could make all the difference. And this is where rapid response fl oorcare comes in.
Invest in innovation Whenever a spillage occurs, the mop and bucket comes out. It’s worrying to see just how often this happens, even today when we have innovation at our disposal. A mop does nothing more than spread dirt and bacteria around, leaving a wet, unsafe fl oor in its wake.
“The NHS is suffering too. The cost of treating injuries resulting from slips and falls hovers around the £115m a year mark.”
Picture this: the water you use to rinse the mop through after each swish is the very same that is then returned to the fl oor. All you are doing is spreading dirty water around.
According to research, these mopped areas are instantly reinfected as the mop head redistributes the soils from the bucket’s contaminated water. Even microfi bre is not very effective. They only cut bacteria by – at the most – 51%, after which they just drag germs back over clean areas.
High-fl ow fl uid extraction is the best way to deal with spillages. Using fresh water and cleaning chemicals, water is dispensed on the surface and agitated to loosen soils. The dirty water is quickly suctioned away to leave
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a clean, dry fl oor. Soils and liquids are instantly removed rather than spread about. It’s a highly effective method of cleaning on almost all hard surfaces.
Machines like the Kaivac SUV offers extreme soil removal technology, perfect for addressing rapid spill response. It is easy to use, with cordless battery capability and deals with a range of spills and hazards quickly and safely so affected areas aren’t out of action for long.
Prevention is the cure It’s not just spills that can cause slips and falls. If a robust cleaning routine is not in place, a build-up of dirt and other contaminants can also cause accidents.
A daily cleaning plan using high-fl ow fl uid extraction solves the problem of soil and bacteria build-up. And it’s so quick to use, there’s minimal disruption.
After taking ATP measurements before and after recent cleaning at a chain of fast-food restaurants, we were delighted but not surprised by the results. After our high fl ow fl uid extraction process, the readings were showing as clinically clean – even on the fl oors.
Testing offers valuable insights, so improvements can be introduced where necessary.
Take health and safety seriously There needs to be a shift away from reactive cleaning to a more preventative removal of risk. Cleaning and fl oorcare plans must be proactive, complemented by a robust rapid spill response strategy.
The benefi ts are huge – not only in terms of the health and safety of individuals, but also in the savings for businesses and the NHS.
www.rawlins.co.uk/ twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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