Reliable Floor Testing

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Reliable Floor Testing

• Steve Thorpe Principal Scientist
• Human Factors Group
• Health and Safety Laboratory
• www.hse.gov.uk/slips

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Friction Requirements
Risk 1 in Minimum SRV Slip Potential 1 000 000
36 Low 100 000 34 Moderate 10 000 29
Moderate 200 27 Moderate 20 24 High
Requirements higher for turning etc.
For ramped surfaces add tangent of angle so, At 5
degrees 0.36 Tan 5 0.36 0.09 0.45
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CoF Test Methods

• Pendulum CoF test
• Imitate heel impact
• Produce correct fluid dynamics
• Realistic CoF measurements in wet and dry
  conditions
• HSE/HSL preferred method
• BS 79762002 UKSRG Guidelines

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CoF Test Methods

• Sled tests
• Designed around classical physics
• Do not reproduce relevant fluid dynamics
• Misleading in wet conditions
• Not accepted by HSE/HSL
• Problems acknowledged by TTA

5
Surface Microroughness Analysis

• Range of instruments
• Useful complementary measure
• Quick easy on site measurement
• Mitutoyo SJ-201P Surtronic Duo
  Surtronic 3

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Surface microroughness

• Useful complementary measure
• Monitor changes
• Stairs
• Profiles
• Measurement used by SAT (Risk assessment
  process)
• New package STEP due 11/08

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Stairs

• Dimensions consistency, rise and going
• Shape of nosing
• Position of nosing strip
• Visibility of nosing strip
• Slip resistance of nosing strip
• Handrails position, shape
• Lighting
• BS5395

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The Ramp Test

• DIN 51130
• Shod test on motor oil
• Reported as R9, R10, R11, R12, R13
• DIN 51097
• Barefoot test on soapy water
• Reported as A, B, C
• HSL / UKSRG Ramp Method
• Potable water
• Reported as CoF

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Footwear

• Effective footwear available
• What does safety footwear mean?
• Thresholds in EN?
• HSL Ramp method is a valid test
• Trial a range of footwear in workplace
• Use peer group information
• Involve staff, comfort, fit
• Footwear costs less than accidents

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Profiles?
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Profiles?

• Dont necessarily improve slip resistance
• Wear / change quickly
• Lots of slips! Food sector, vehicles
• More work required
• TREATMENTS!!

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Cleaning
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Cleaning

• Correct detergent
• Concentration very important
• Contact time most important
• Solution must be removed
• Mops only effective on smooth floors

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Questions / Comments

• steve.thorpe_at_hsl.gov.uk