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Fall
2002 - Article 4
Floor
Safety
Cleanliness Critical in Prevention
Intuitively,
we all know that keeping floors clean is the best prevention against
slips and falls but, often, scant attention is paid to this important
function. To compound matters, lab friction standards (Coefficient of
Friction) have always garnered the most attention within the industry
with very little said about cleanliness. That is set to change. The
American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) is developing an analysis
method for evaluating floor safety in real world environments. We'll
keep you apprised of any developments in this area. In the mean time,
there are a few things that can be done to keep floors safe. They include:
-
Commitment by management to reduce slips and falls through their approval
of proper floor care products and support of a good maintenance program.
-
Training of all employees to look for and eliminate potential slip
and fall hazards.
- Using
only ASTM/UL-tested products.
Following good maintenance procedures that include: frequent sweeping
and/or dust mopping, maintaining walk-off mats, proper signage (wet
floor signs), spot mopping spills and water immediately, regular cleaning
and restoring and frequent burnishing.
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