Floor Safety For Business
Floor safety standards provide for the minimum performance requirements necessary for increased safety on walking/working surfaces in the workplace. We utilize this standard for business and residential. The intent of this standard is to help in the reduction of falls due to conditions, which in some fashion are manageable. For business and industrial, OSHA has enforcement directives that authorize them to impose heavy fines for non-compliance. Its important to know the condition of your floors.
ANSI/ASSE A1264.2 Standard: This standard sets forth provisions for protecting persons where there is potential for slipping and falling as a result of surface characteristics or conditions. There are three basic areas addressed in the standard: 1) provisions for reducing hazards; 2) test procedures and equipment; and 3) slip resistance guideline. The intent of this standard is to help in the reduction of falls due to conditions, which in some fashion are manageable. The standard in its present form provides for the minimum performance requirements necessary for increased safety on walking/working surfaces in the workplace.
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990 to guarantee equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The ADA made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of disability in employment, transportation, telecommunications, state and local government and public accommodations. In 2003 the ADA advisory on surface conditions issued “Bulletin 4” which recommended a static coefficient of friction (SCOF) value of 0.6 for level surfaces and .8 for ramps and inclined surfaces.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was founded in 1970 with the mission to “assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards for industry and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.” OSHA does NOT currently have any published standards regarding slip resistance; however OSHA inspectors can issue citations to businesses and property owners for excessively slippery floors.
The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, independent of the floor manufacturing industry. NFSI was founded in 1997 with the intention of preventing slip and fall accidents by educating the public and businesses through informative programming, research, training and product certification. NFSI certifies flooring materials, coatings, chemical floor-cleaning products, and treatments.
Friction is the action of one surface or object rubbing against another. There are two primary types of friction: dynamic friction and static friction. Dynamic friction is the friction between two moving surfaces or objects. Static friction is the friction between two objects that are not moving. The higher the dynamic or static number the lower the probability of slipping. All of our products will help manage slips and falls with added friction. We also have NFSI approved SCOF and DCOF meters in shop ready to test your floors. And we can perform a floor audit to determine your liability, if any. Know your floor condition. Call us today for a quote!