Slip and fall accidents are a huge concern in America as the average age of the population is on the rise. Broken hips for the elderly often lead to long hospital stays and premature deaths. Slip and fall accidents also account for the greatest number of lost work days for American employees in the workplace. Many companies offer non-skid coatings for slip and fall issues, but many have been tested for slip resistance using outdated, misleading and downright unreliable slip resistance test methods. You must not only get your floors tested for slip resistance, but you must have it tested by someone who knows what they’re talking about and what they’re doing!
Testing for static coefficient of friction (SCOF) has led to a ton of confusion, slip and fall lawsuits, and accidents in the United States. OSHA has recommended that floors have an SCOF of 0.5 or greater. Unfortunately, they don’t state which test method should be used to determine this SCOF number. Different test methods such as the ASTM C1028-07, the James Machine, and the ASM 725/825A will get much different test results on the same piece of tile. The very same tile may have an SCOF of 0.42 on the James Machine, a 0.52 using the C1028 pull test, and 0.62 using the ASM static tester. SCOF testing is no longer trusted or used by slip resistance test experts around the globe. Soon, it has been reported, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) will be allowing their official static coefficient of friction test method (their C1028-07) to expire in 2014. This will be the next step in the quiet death of this type of unreliable testing. SCOF testing doesn’t mean much, if anything, regarding how slippery a floor is for pedestrians.
Testing using dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) has been researched for decades and is now the only method for testing slip resistance for experts in floor friction testing. The modern pendulum slip tester produces DCOF test results with proven safety standards backed up by decades of research into real-world slip and fall accidents.
SparkleTuff clear abrasive anti-slip floor coating and abrasive and non-abrasive anti-slip tapes (available through SafetyDirectAmerica.com) can not only help stop slip and fall accidents, but their non-skid and anti-slip properties can be proven using reliable slip resistance testing data. If you use slip resistance tested products to solve your slip and fall problems, you can have peace of mind that not only has your floor or bath been treated for slip resistance, but they have been tested as well using reliable and proven slip test methods. A fraudulent lawsuit filed against a property owner alleging he/she has a slippery floor can be stopped instantly by providing reliable test result data. Testing also helps a building owner or manager have peace of mind knowing that their slippery floor problem has been fixed. Be sure the anti-slip floor coating product, anti-slip floor treatment, or non-skid tapes that you use to anti-slip your floor has been tested for slip resistance using reliable testing methods so that you KNOW your problem has been solved.
Safety Direct America has been testing floors for slip resistance for over 15 years, and their clients include major cruise ship companies, hotel chains, upscale resorts and restaurants around the United States.