Characteristics and performance of anti-slip systems

Slips and falls occurring while walking on artificial floors are the third leading cause of accidents at work and the second in the home and leisure environment.

‘In Italy, the statistics reflect the European trend and falls on the floor – in the workplace – represent the third biggest cause of accidents of all production sectors with about 15% of all known accidents. Falls on the floor cause even serious injuries in workers with an average duration of 38 days of absence, a duration exceeded only by falls from heights and hanging/hooking accidents (47 and 49 days, respectively).’ So says the booklet, ‘Assessing the risk of falling on the floor’ resulting from the ‘MiSP: Measurement of the Slipperiness of Floors and Fall Risk in the Workplace’ project, a scientific study carried out by the Laboratory of Applied and Experimental Ergonomics (LEAS) of the Department of Architecture of the Federico II University of Naples.

However, many of the accidents recorded occur because objective factors are largely underestimated at the design stage, i.e., very frequently, what is missing from the outset is a careful assessment and proper design of the surfaces subjected to precisely the most frequent activity of man: walking on level ground. In this sense, anti-slip coatings are one of the tools to be used for effective fall prevention. This is not enough. Slipperiness also depends on the state of cleanliness and wear of the flooring, in addition to the choice of the type of flooring. In order to reduce accidents, therefore, correct cleaning procedures and maintenance are also essential. For these reasons, the considerations proposed here are addressed to all professionals involved in various ways in the design and use of the pavement: Principals, Designers, Commercial Flooring Operators, Safety Managers, Property Managers, Cleaning Contractors and End Users.