Slip accidents pose a significant concern across various environments, presenting risks to both safety and liability, and choosing slip resistant flooring is critical.
According to HSE, slips and trips accounted for 23% of accidents during 2022 and 2023, with 95% of major slips result in broken bones!
Slips and trips are responsible for, on average:
- Over a third of all reported major injuries
- 20% of over-3-day injuries to employees
- 2 fatalities per year
- 50% of all reported accidents to members of the public that happen in workplaces
- Cost to employers £512 million per year (lost production and other costs)
- Cost to health service £133 million per year
- Incalculable human cost
- More major injuries in manufacturing and in the service sectors than any other cause
Ensuring adequate slip resistance in flooring is paramount in mitigating these risks, and the specification of appropriate floor coating materials is highlighted by HSE as one of the key ways to avoid such accidents.
Understanding slip resistance
Slip resistance is ability of a flooring surface to provide traction and grip under various conditions, thereby reducing the likelihood of slip accidents. It encompasses the surface’s ability to maintain friction between the shoe and the floor, even when subjected to contaminants such as water, oil, or other substances.
Slip resistance is typically measured using standardised testing methods and is expressed as a coefficient of friction (COF) or slip resistance value (SRV). This value indicates the level of slip resistance offered by the flooring material, with higher values indicating greater resistance to slipping.
Achieving adequate slip resistance is essential for ensuring the safety of individuals within a space, particularly in high-traffic areas or environments prone to spills or moisture. Of course, there are a number of factors that influence performance in this area.
The texture of a flooring surface plays a crucial role in determining its slip resistance. Rougher textures typically provide better traction as they increase the surface area in contact with the shoe, enhancing grip. Factors such as the size and distribution of surface irregularities influence the effectiveness of the texture in preventing slips. It’s important to balance the texture with the ease of cleaning, as this increase in surface regularity can require more intensive scrubbing or hosing down to maintain hygiene.
The composition of the flooring material itself significantly impacts its slip resistance. Different materials possess varying levels of inherent friction, with some offering naturally higher resistance to slipping than others. Factors such as hardness, flexibility and porosity affect how the material interacts with footwear and contaminants, influencing its slip resistance properties.
Moisture, oil, dust and temperature, can profoundly affect slip resistance. Moisture, for instance, can reduce friction between the shoe and the floor, increasing the risk of slips. Similarly, the presence of oil or other contaminants can further compromise traction.
The slip resistance of any flooring surface can be measured and categorised using the guidance outlined in one of a handful of internationally recognised standards.
DIN 51130 and DIN 51097 are designed to provided guidelines for assessing the slip resistance of flooring materials in areas where people walk, in the case of the former, with footwear, and with the latter, without.
Both standards use a ramp test method, where a sample of the flooring is installed on a slant while a willing participant walks on the ramp, to evaluate the slip resistance of flooring surfaces under different conditions. The ramp is contaminated with oil (DIN 51130) or soapy water (DIN 51097), and the incline of the sample is slowly increased. The angle at which the operative slips forms the basis of the classification.
The test results from a DIN 51130 test are categorised between R9 (low slip resistance) to R13 (very high slip resistance), helping to determine the suitability of flooring materials for specific environments. DIN 51097 uses an A to C rating, with C being the most slip resistant.
BS 7976-2 outlines the Pendulum Test, a widely accepted method for assessing the slip resistance of flooring surfaces in both dry and wet conditions, using a pendulum apparatus to measure the dynamic coefficient of friction (COF). The test results are expressed as Pendulum Test Values (PTV), with higher values indicating greater slip resistance. This test can be performed either with a sample or on site with installed materials.
Choosing appropriate flooring
The first step in identifying the most appropriate level of slip resistance is understanding the site and its usage. The flow and nature of traffic, the facility’s various points of entry and their exposure to the elements, locations where the potential for spillages is increased as well as the type of liquid, and the site’s day-to-day operations all play a part in the specification of flooring materials, particularly their anti-slip properties.
A food processing facility is likely to experience spills of water, oil or food substances due to the nature of operations. Areas where food is prepared, processed or packaged are particularly prone to spillages, creating potential slip hazards for workers. Additionally, the constant flow of foot traffic, including employees and machinery, adds to the complexity of ensuring slip-resistant flooring.
It’s important to consider, that cleanability is essential when selecting flooring materials for industrial areas. While textures on the floor are often designed to enhance slip resistance, they can also present challenges in terms of cleanability. Excessive texture or roughness may trap dirt, debris and contaminants, making it difficult to clean effectively, potentially compromising hygiene standards if not addressed.
Finding the balance between the level of texture required for adequate slip resistance while ensuring that the flooring remains easy to clean and maintain helps to provides a safe working environment but also meets the stringent cleanliness requirements of industrial settings.
This might mean selecting varying levels of anti-slip texture to suit different requirements across the facility and adopting suitable cleaning approaches for each of these.
In the example of food & beverage manufacturing or packaging environments, particularly those where liquids are involved in the process, the flooring around the production line is likely to require a heavier texture than that of the finished goods warehouse, where there is less chance of spillage and contamination.
Epoxy resin flooring is known for its high durability and chemical resistance, making it a popular choice for industrial and commercial settings. In terms of slip resistance, a number of epoxy flooring systems are available to achieve different levels through the inclusion of aggregates such as quartz or aluminium oxide.
Epoxy terrazzo, like vebro Classic Terrazzo is ground smooth, resulting in a light-textured finish. For additional slip resistance, in entry ways or cafeteria spaces for example, the seal coat can incorporate fine glass aggregate.
Polyurethane resin flooring offers excellent durability, flexibility and resistance to chemicals and abrasion. Like epoxy flooring, polyurethane systems with different build ups can achieve varying levels of slip resistance.
Methyl-methacrylate (MMA) flooring is valued for its rapid curing properties, allowing for quick installation and minimal downtime. Vebro’s range of MMA flooring systems are designed to cater to a range of slip resistance requirements, with varying textures achieved in the finished floor.
PU concrete combines the durability of polyurethane resin with the strength and resilience of concrete, making it suitable for heavy-duty industrial applications. Each of Vebro Polymers’ vebrocrete systems features a different surface texture, incorporating finer or coarser filler aggregates to achieve the appropriate finish.
Looking for high performance, slip resistant flooring?
We’d love to discuss any upcoming projects and how resin flooring can contribute to safety on-site!
Contact the Vebro team in Manchester, UK by dropping an email to hello@vebropolymers.com.
