HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING
STEP IT UP ON FLOOR SAFETY
To reduce hazards that cause slips, trips and falls, FMs should tackle the issue both proactively and reactively, says Watco.
Health and safety should always be a top priority for FMs. Accidents caused by slips, trips and falls remain far too common in UK workplaces, threatening not only employee safety, but also the financial health of a business.
Recent research, conducted by industrial repair and paint specialist Watco, found that only a quarter of facilities hadn’t been affected by slips, trips or falls in the 12-months leading up to the survey. This highlights that, despite FMs being aware of hazards in their facilities, more must be done to reduce the frequency of incidents.
To reduce hazards that cause slips, trips and falls, FMs should tackle the issue both proactively and reactively.
What does a reactive approach involve? A reactive approach focuses on how teams within the facility respond when a hazard has been spotted. For example, if liquid is spilled on the floor, teams must have easy access to wet floor signs and cleaning equipment if the spill is suitable for mopping up.
To make sure this process happens, FMs should use signage to highlight where cleaning equipment is stored. They should also ensure the entire facility team know how to contact the cleaning department for more complex hazards, such as a chemical spillage.
What does a proactive approach involve? A proactive approach focuses on the root cause of hazards and identifies solutions to prevent future incidents. For
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example, if team members are frequently slipping over on the same ramp, or tripping on a set of steps where the edges have worn down due to heavy foot traffic, a proactive approach will guide FMs to examine the solutions available. This will help to reduce or eliminate the hazards altogether.
Watco’s Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) products provide an effective solution as they feature anti slip properties suitable for a wide range of facility surfaces, including step edges, ramps and ladders.
So, how should FMs know which solutions they need?
Identify which surfaces are creating the hazards To understand where solutions are needed, FMs should first conduct a risk assessment of the facility, and review records of accidents and near misses. This will help identify which surfaces pose hazards.
FMs may find that some hazards occur more in particular seasons, such as slippery entrance steps during the wetter seasons when rainwater is tracked inside. However, liquid can just as easily be spilled on the surface at any point in the year. Therefore, it is important to tackle all of the hazards identified with long-term solutions, and not to rely on them only requiring attention during particular months.
Equipment used in a facility can also create safety risks when wet or oily. Ladders are used for accessing inventory and completing repairs, yet they can become incredibly dangerous when wet or contaminated with grease or oil.
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