Don’t slip up on surface safeguards
Do you have accident prevention safeguards in place?
Australia is a sunburnt country but also a land of flooding rains and even icy ground. The threat of slips and falls is one that keeps the accommodation industry constantly on guard.
Installing non-slip surfaces is not just an issue of compliance for property managers; it’s also sound business sense and proof of a commitment to protecting guests.
Australian law holds properties liable for accidents to visitors, and the financial and reputational costs of that can be enormous, along with the personal damage suffered by the victim. WorkSafe Australia reports that in 2020 to 2021, there were 30,039 serious compensation claims made nationally due to falls and trips. The most common factor in the injury claims was the surface on which they occurred.
The Winter Issue of AccomNews is out now. Read it HERE
Whether it’s dealing with the wet surrounds of a pool in tropical Queensland or an icy footpath in Tasmania, accommodation providers must do everything they can to prevent any slip-ups in their accident prevention safeguards.
WorkSafe Queensland says the key issues to consider when assessing the suitability of flooring are:
- Smooth hard surfaces increase the risk of slips.
- Contaminants on the floor further increase risks.
- Incorrect cleaning can make floors more slippery.
- Changes in the height of flooring can cause trips, including changes as small as 1 cm or even less.
- Slips, trips, and falls also occur between areas with different types of flooring material.
- A floor that is slip resistant when dry may not be slip resistant when wet.
- Floor roughness is more effective than slip-resistant footwear in reducing slips.
Carpet has a shorter life than a hard floor surface but can be a more cost-effective and safer solution in many cases. Installation should be wall-to-wall to avoid the hazard of tripping on edges.
Rounded aggregate is often used on external pathways, and the slip resistance depends on finish and wear. It can be slippery when concrete wears. When used as an interior surface, aggregate is often sealed to prevent dusting and absorption of liquids, but this can increase slipperiness.
Cork floors become slippery when wet, but not as slippery as glazed ceramic tiles which can morph into ice skating rinks when used in bathrooms and toilets.
Property managers are advised to make regular and thorough risk assessments of all areas within their domain, identifying potential slip hazards and implementing preventive measures including anti-slip treatment surfaces in the bathrooms and warning signs in recently cleaned areas. Warning signs are crucial.
Action needs to be taken immediately if the flooring is uneven or in poor condition if there is loose or curling matting, torn carpet, uneven or broken concrete, or chipped and cracked tiles. Checks should be made to see if anti-slip paint or tape is worn, smooth, or damaged, and if there are spots of flooring that could be more worn or contaminated than other areas. The choice of cleaning products is important, ensuring that they leave minimal residue.
Floors can be made more slip-resistant with treatments such as mineral-coated adhesive strips which are useful for localised slip hazards such as stair treads and ramps. However, they wear quickly and should be considered as a temporary solution or receive regular replacement.
Coatings can be used on concrete, clay pavers, steel plates, and timber. A range of base materials is used including acrylics, flexible polymers, polyester resin, vinyl ester resin, and epoxy resin. For the best slip resistance, the coatings include some aggregate such as rubber particles, silica sands, and silicon carbide granules. These treatments can be tailored to the application depending on the level of chemical, traffic, or slip resistance needed. With the right aggregate, slip resistance – even under oily conditions – is quite possible.
Grinding and sandblasting are both used on concrete surfaces, ceramic tiles, granite, marble, terrazzo, and clay pavers. Grinding treatment can make a surface rougher providing more grip, but even with sandblasting, oils can make such a surface slippery, and that’s a similar case with acid etches.
The Winter Issue of AccomNews is out now. Read it HERE
Creating grooves with a diamond saw is sometimes used on concrete, ceramic tiles, granite, marble, terrazzo, and clay pavers. Grooves can improve slip resistance, but the loss of a sealed surface could lead to staining.
Maintenance of flooring is crucial, and a cheap warning sign can save a lot of money and heartache down the track.
Grantlee Kieza OAM has won three Queensland Media Awards, two Australian Sports Commission Awards and has been a finalist for the Walkley and News Awards and for the Harry Gordon Award for Australian sports journalist of the year. In 2019 he received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his writing. You can find more of his work in our AccomNews & Resort News print magazines.
He has written 22 acclaimed books, including bestsellers Hudson Fysh, The Kelly Hunters, Lawson, Banks, Macquarie, Banjo, Mrs Kelly, Monash, Sons of the Southern Cross and Bert Hinkler.