SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS
conditions of use. HSE therefore recommends the use of a portable test instrument called a Pendulum Test which can be used on site (BS 7976-2 +A1:2013).
The test is based on swinging a slider over flooring to imitate a heel strike, the critical point for a slip accident. To accurately replicate the conditions on site, the test must be carried out in a controlled manner and adjusted as necessary.
For example:
• The slider(s) used to simulate the heel strike needs to be selected to reflect if the area is used by barefoot or shoe-wearing pedestrians or both.
• The contamination agent used in the test needs to reflect the prevailing type of contamination. For example, water, soapy water, oil, dust or none for dry areas.
The resulting pendulum test values are categorised by slip potential outlined in figure 1.
Figure1. HSE Slip Potential / PTV results7
“Where cleaning is carried out effectively, it can make the difference between a floor being an unacceptably high slip risk or one that has an acceptably low slip risk.”
Prevention is better than cure to prevent slips.
MAKE A CLEAN ENTRANCE Effective entrance design stops ingress of water and dirt at source. The position of the entrance, canopy and door design can reduce the amount of dirt and moisture that is tracked into a building by up to 90%. British Standards (BS 7953; 1999 2 Entrance flooring systems) mandates a clean off zone to reduce ingress of soil and transfer to other parts of the building. This zone must be a minimum of 2.1m in length in order to cater for several steps and repeated turns of wheelchair wheels. Where footfall is high and there is space, this zone can be increased up to 6m.
CONCLUSION Forget any preconceptions: the highest slip resistance in a dry area can be a smooth resilient floor offering the required slip resistance of 36+ (PTV), just as rough surfaces do in wet areas. To reduce slip risk, address all risk factors, including layouts, pedestrian flows, grab rails, sources of lighting and glare, human activity, risk of contamination, footwear, and the effective use of on-site professional cleaning resources.
Applying the test standard as intended, you may be surprised that smooth resilient floor with an R9 ramp test rating can produce PTV values that fall well within the low slip potential category. nora’s smooth R9 and moderately textured R10 flooring produce a PTV of 63 to 75 in the dry. Given that the majority of floors in every day conditions are dry most of the time, the safest option could just be a smooth resilient floor.
KEEP IT SAFE Because contamination is the cause of most slip accidents, HSE emphasises in its Slips & Trips - The Importance of Floor Cleaning information sheet:
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When deciding on the appropriate flooring material, a safe environment means more than slip resistance alone. Other performance requirements for hygiene and infection control, acoustics, ergonomics, fire resistance, indoor air quality and sustainability also need to be satisfied. Be mindful of the potential increase in lifecycle costs from installing rough, hard-to-clean floors in areas where they are not needed. A cost-effective life of a floor goes beyond the initial investment to include wear and tear, maintenance and cleaning costs which account for 90% of the life-cycle cost. A sensible and diligent decision can greatly reduce the risks of slips, trips and falls, whilst ensuring that beautifully designed, functional and safe flooring is used in all public spaces.
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