Workplace safety measures and checklist from General Mat Company

According to General Mat Company , the figures from the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) show that the Australian industry now has over 20,000 new workers compensation cases a year where falls, slips and trips result in death, permanent disability or a temporary disability resulting in an absence from work of more than a week.

The cost of these new claims is hundreds of millions of dollars a year and absolutely certain to rise as courts find that many of the incidents are preventable. Once the level of awareness in Australian courts reaches the level of awareness in the US system, then all local employers should be very aware of their responsibilities.

Workplace safety is a concern to everyone. Employees, employers, risk managers, insurers and even visitors are impacted by the level of commitment to safety at their physical facility. As long as businesses have existed, one of the common and costly threats to a workplace safety program has been the slip and fall accident.

The slip resistance of any surface can be determined by the Coefficient of Friction (COF) on the surface. The COF is the horizontal force divided by the vertical force. If the coefficient of friction reading is higher it is less slippery.

Coefficient of Friction has become an important measure of performance for floor surfaces and to the anti-fatigue and safety matting industry. To guard against slip and fall accidents, the American OSHA recommends a static coefficient of friction of 0.5. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifies a coefficient of friction of 0.6 on flat surfaces and 0.8 on ramps.

With these recommendations in place, the concept of slip resistance has been elevated to a civil right. Now, the static coefficient of friction of 0.5 is seen as legal and enforceable benchmark for slip-resistant pedestrian walkways. Similar standards of protection will arrive in Australia.

The expenditure can be as much on protective clothing, eyeglasses, earmuffs and helmets, but if the floor under the employees’ feet is not safe then literally and legally they have not got a leg to stand on. Yet employers can do a lot to address the problem by undertaking a little homework to direct their safety investment.

Safety Checklist

A basic checklist should include the following steps to help keep the workplace safe:

Investigation of accidents

Investigation must be undertaken to find out where accidents and near-accidents occur. Often minor incidents precede major ones, so even small accidents should be treated, as clues to identifying troublesome areas that need attention. Employees should report all incidents. They must also pay particular attention to the following:

• Doorways and other transitional areas
• Ramps
• Cluttered hallways
• Areas with heavy traffic
• Uneven surfaces
• Areas prone to wetness or spills

Implementation of environmental controls

Implementation of environmental controls includes slip-resistant floors and safety, ergonomic and anti-fatigue mats. These should have a minimal static coefficient of at least 0.5. When assessing the types of flooring that should be used, the users must be aware that the flooring be chosen according to the floor’s use, but also that some rooms may require more than one type of floor surface (something planners sometimes overlook, and a factor where special-purpose matting can be used in, for example, fatty, wet or metal working areas).

While it is possible to design floors with subtle and safe slopes to improve drainage, companies may find it more cost-efficient to use different tiles or mats in areas of heavy traffic. Some of the criteria to consider in choosing flooring include:

• Kind of spills
• Sanitary requirements
• Noise
• Heavy traffic
• Equipment of the floor
• Floor clean
• Aesthetic effects

Non-skid coatings can improve traction, but mats constructed with anchorage surfaces have the advantage of being able to be applied immediately. They can also be moved as production and traffic needs change. Mats provide added protection in spots where spills may occur and in areas with heavy traffic, where customers and employees may track in water and dirt.

Where mats are chosen, the following qualities should be considered:

• Easy to clean
• Rubber surfaces
• Recessed or bevelled edges
• Thicknesses of 125-160mm
• Perforated surfaces to drain spills

Further, it is sensible also to ensure that footwear complements the mats’ safety and ergonomic performance by having slip-resistant soles and a high co-efficient of friction, while being comfortable and durable.

Following are the hazards that could cause slips, trips or falls and need to be kept in mind :

• If you drop it, pick it up
• If you spill it, wipe it up.
• Go where you’re looking, and look where you’re going
• Check that aisles are clear
• Be sure floors are clean
• Watch guests or customers to give them any assistance they might need
• Make cleaning implements accessible to any employee

As long as people move, fatigue and slips will occur. But a variety of products can reduce the chances that the hazards will result in a painful experience.

Mats need to be kept clean

Floors should be checked if they are clean. Employees, guests or customers should be watched to give them any assistance they might need during inclement conditions, such as spillages, flooding or rain. Cleaning implements should also be accessible to any employee. Quality carpet and entrance mats are designed to lower maintenance costs and still be easily maintained.

Following are the tips to maintain mats used on floor surfaces:

Carpet and Entrance Mats: The mats should be taken outside and shook to remove excess dirt and debris. If necessary, hose is used to wash them off. The carpeted mats must dry before use. Carpet mats can be cleaned the same way that maintain carpeting. The mats must be vacuumed daily, and extracted or shampooed when dirt builds up.

Moulded Rubber and PVC Anti-fatigue Mats: High-pressure hose (not to exceed 1800psi) should be used and hot water (max 160°F) to rid the mats of oils. For better results, mild soap or detergent like Ivory Liquid with a ph ranging 4.0 - 9.0 should be used to clean the mats. Steam, degreasers or caustic chemicals should be avoided. Do not machine wash or mechanically scrub the mats.

SpongeCote Mats, PVC Sponges and Urethane Mats: The mat should be swept regularly or mopped. These mats can be wet mopped with mild soap or detergent. For better results detergent like Ivory Liquid with a ph ranging 4.0 - 9.0 can be used.

Runner Mats: Runner mats need a simple sweep on the surface with a broom or vacuum or can also be wet mopped with mild soap.