Occupational safety – What Employers need to know about slip testing

There are certain legal aspects that employers need to know about slip testing and ensuring that the working environment, including the floors, are safe for their employees to walk upon. In this article, we shall see some information that employers need to know about workplace safety when it comes to slip testing the floors.

The law

The law requires that employers ensure the safety and health of their employees and anyone who is involved in the workplace as far as is reasonably practicable. This means that employers have to balance the risk level against any measures required to control the risk in terms of trouble, money or time. This means that slip testing should be considered an important safety factor.

The law requires all employers to assess the risks involved at the workplace, including slip and trip risks, and then take the necessary precautions to reduce these risks. The floors must be suitable, in good condition and should be free from all obstructions, which ensures that employees move around safely.

Controlling the risk of slip accidents in the workplace

Employers need to focus on the risks that really matter – those which have the potential to cause serious harm to their employees. At times, it just requires straightforward action to control the risk. For example, any spillages should be cleaned up immediately so people do not slip and fall. At most times, the measures required are simple and cheap, and they ensure that the employer’s most valuable asset, the employee, is safe at all times.

Addressing risk of slips in the workplace

Slip accidents at the workplace can come about due to a variety of reasons. There is a slip potential model which addresses the actors that can lead to slip accidents, and one has to address each of these issues in order to avoid accidents at work. These factors can cause accidents single or in conjunction with one another. The factors are:

  • Contamination on the floor
  • Cleaning methods
  • The employees themselves, who must ensure they walk in a safe manner
  • The flooring material
  • The environment
  • The footwear used by employees

 Design and Maintenance

The design of the floor is one of the first aspects that employers must consider. The floor must undergo slip testing so as to ensure that it is safe. The fitting and maintenance of the floor will also contribute to the slip risk factor. Stairs should have handrails to add stability when walking up and down the stars. The lighting of the workplace should be bright enough so spillages can be seen and avoided.

Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their workers are safe from slip accidents. Getting regular slip testing is one way of minimizing the risk. If the floors are found to be too slippery, proper measures should be taken to reduce the risk of slipping. The floor may need addition of non-slip compounds and measures, or may need to be replaced entirely. It is important that all employers know the need and importance of having slip resistance testing done in the workplace.