Osha Floor Slip Resistance

According to slip trip and fall prevention by steven di pilla osha refers to four separate slip resistance standards each promulgated at different times and with varying degrees of enforceability.

Osha floor slip resistance. The osha standard 29 cfr 1910 subpart d is the standard that discusses non slip walking surfaces. For instance traditionally osha said employers must maintain floors that are slip resistant this term is set to be phased out replaced by the term high traction many chemicals used to finish floors as well as work shoes used the term slip resistant to describe products designed to prevent slips trips and falls. In a nonmandatory appendix to a proposed rule in 1990 osha said a reasonable measure of slip resistance is static coefficient of friction scof is recommended as a guide to achieve proper slip resistance. The report states that flooring with a high static coefficient of friction scof 0 8 to 1 0.

Ironically a floor that is too rough can also be a slip and fall hazard according to slip resistant flooring a 2003 report by the society for protective coatings. Sustainable flooring with high slip resistance our safety flooring provides a solution for all demands with regard to technical specifications and appearance. These types of floor surfaces should be installed in work areas that are generally slippery because of wet oily or dirty operations. Slip resistant footwear may also be useful in reducing slipping hazards.

In ansi a326 3 basketball and volleyball floor safety dcof rating expert witness slip and fall floor slip resistance safety standards osha slip resistance standard slip and fall prevention slip resistance testing slipping accident prevention sustainable slip resistance. Posted on january 14 2019. Slip resistant flooring material such as textured serrated or punched surfaces and steel grating may offer additional slip resistance. A cof of 0 5 is not intended to be an absolute.

The range covers the coefficient of friction ratings of r10 r11 and r12 including products that are suitable for wet room flooring. There has never been an official osha slip test or safety standard for flooring. A review of standards for pedestrian slip resistance testing. To date no study has been performed that defines the safe threshold cof for a specific tribometer for all combinations of footwear contaminant and floor type.

Many in the risk and safety field have been lead to believe that this 0 5 value was recognized by osha when in fact osha has never published nor mandated any minimum slip resistance value. Slip resistant footwear can also help reduce slip and fall hazards in the workplace.