Safety Flooring

Managing risk and reducing hazards is an important part of any business. In almost any setting, care and attention must be paid to floors and walking surfaces. Slips and falls are a leading cause of injuries and deaths in the United States, and account for hundreds of thousands of lost worker days per year. Safety flooring can be one step in an effective program to reduce worker injury.

Increasing Friction: The Goal of Safety Flooring

Today, many solutions exist to provide safe floors in the workplace. The goal is to increase the friction between the foot and the floor, even when floors are wet or soiled. This is particularly important in environments involving food preparation and serving areas. Vinyl flooring specifically designed to reduce slipping is a good solution in these cases.

In hospitals or other areas where hygiene is a major concern, you can choose safety flooring that is resistant to bacteria. Another advantage to vinyl safety flooring is that it comes in a variety of colors and designs to fit your decor scheme. If installing a new floor is not in the budget, there are also a variety of products that will add slip and bacterial resistance to your current walking surface.

Properly maintaining your safety floors requires choosing the right chemicals and products for the job. Certain topical coatings can enhance the coefficient of friction of your floor, while at the same time provide enhanced protection from soil embedding and mechanical impact. Cleaning products can also have additives that increase traction, as well as enhance the anti-bacterial nature of your safety floor.