When people think of slip testing, they think of it being done within the premises of a solitary business, or other small walking area. However, there is the need to protect the general public from slip and fall accidents. This means conducting slip resistance testing in parking lots, hospitals, and other areas frequented by the public, but not really considered as high-risk when it comes to slip and fall accidents. It is quite common for malls to be held liable for such accidents, but places like hospitals should also conduct these tests.
The peculiar scenario of slip testing for a hospital
Hospitals are there for the provision of health, safety and care for all their patients and workers. Not many people would expect a hospital to be liable for a slip and fall accident. The operation of a hospital requires that all surfaces should be very smooth and clean, so as to remove potential breeding grounds for pathogens that would harm the patients. If the flooring is not tested, it could be a patient at the hospital who will be bringing a lawsuit against the management.
Slip testing for a parking lot
A parking lot is usually mad of tough and rough material that can stand the wear and tear of vehicle tire traffic for several years. It is the last place that you would expect an individual to slip and fall. However, there is sometimes the buildup of slippery substances like petroleum and oil, which could lead to slippage. The surface of the parking lot should be tested for this. The walkway within the parking lot could also become slippery should any oil get spilled on it. Skid resistance testing for parking lots is necessary, even if the risk is quite low.
Although these are unlikely areas for slips and falls to occur, there should be on-site slip testing to look at the various factors that may inadvertently interact to cause an accident. On-site tests will consider special factors such as oil spillage in the parking lot, the use of special detergents and cleaning substances in a hospital and any more. The floor may have passed the test when it was being installed, but factors associated with the special nature of these places will need to be considered on-site.
The testing experts will look at the slip potential of the floor and make the requisite recommendations to ensure that the floor is safe at all times. In such situations, the team does not look at the factors individually, but collectively. This way, they get to know how the interaction of the factors can increase the risk of slippage.
You should contact a skid resistance testing company at this time and discuss the special factors that could affect the floors in your building. You shall get the proper on-site evaluation of your building, with all factors consider. This is crucial to avoid injury to innocent people, who would not even be expecting to slip and fall in such unlikely environments.