FLOOR SAFETY GET A GRIP


Chris Stanley, Group Commercial Director of COBA Europe, offers his advice on what organisations should consider when it comes to safety flooring.


Slippery floors may once have been the subject of many cartoons, but in reality, they


are far from funny. Without wanting to be a killjoy, the problem is that slipping and tripping over can lead to serious injuries; bone fractures, sprains and bruising, as well as back and head injuries. Lack of concentration can contribute to this, but unsafe floor surfaces are also regularly the culprit. And, in the case of the latter, many such accidents can be prevented.


In the workplace, compliance with health and safety legislation is essential within all areas of a building, and as part of this floor surfaces should be regularly assessed and monitored.


When it comes to minimising slip risks, anti-slip matting and flooring can be a simple way of achieving this. Floor surfaces should not only offer good underfoot traction, they should be level, clean and free from obstruction too. Many anti-slip products are now tested for slip-resistance and these tests are a useful barometer in understanding how effective they will be.


Stairs and ramps should also be obstacle free – anti- slip stair treads and sheets such as those available in GRP are effective for enhancing underfoot grip indoors and outdoors. Similarly, cable protector products can reduce trip hazards and can be used to safely cover ground level cables and trailing wires.


Such initiatives should of course be supported by regular inspection, maintenance and cleaning programmes so that the flooring or matting can provide optimum safety performance. Motivating employees to report any potential hazards can be very helpful in achieving ‘a culture of safety’ in the workplace.


Safety flooring in the workplace also extends to comfort and wellbeing. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a growing concern and products such as anti-fatigue matting can be helpful in reducing physical fatigue and muscular strain caused by regular prolonged standing on hard floor surfaces. Discomfort can cause fatigue, and in turn lapses in concentration which can lead to other, sometimes more serious, accidents in the workplace. Pain and discomfort are debilitating and can affect mental health too, leading to depression and stress, so any initiatives that can reduce, or prevent, their onset should be embraced.


Safety matting and flooring can only be truly effective if they are correctly specified and regularly maintained, or replaced as necessary. That is where the assistance of a manufacturer can be really helpful. We regularly accompany our distributors’ representatives on site visits to help customers choose the right floor level safety product for their specific environment. It’s all too easy to presume that one black ‘rubber’ mat is just like any other black rubber mat.


The materials they are manufactured from, the technique used in their production and their surface design, can make a real difference in longevity and performance properties. An example of this, is say, an industrial environment prone to oil and chemical spillage.


Some flooring and matting materials will degrade very quickly on contact with such contaminants, whereas products with nitrile, for example, can withstand this type of use, and therefore should last longer. Flammability is another factor to take into account in areas such as welding bays where sparks can cause potential fires, and again certain materials have been tested for flammability and can withstand higher temperatures.


High voltage areas also need special care. Open switchboards require specialist flooring according to the working voltage. The standard in the UK is BS EN 61111:2009 with different ‘classes’ for different ‘working voltages’. It is important not to confuse this with environments that require ‘static-dissipative’ matting and accessories, known as ESD matting.


www.cobaeurope.com 34 www.tomorrowshs.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48