OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (OH&S)

SLIP RESISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

In 2006, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) commissioned a study to identify health and safety risks in buildings. The study found that slips, trips and falls accounted for the greatest risk to health and safety over the lifetime of a building. Recently the ABCB released the findings of a more detailed study that was undertaken by the Monash University of Accident Research Centre (MUARC).

One recommendation of the MUARC is for flooring manufactures and retailers to provide comparative information on slip resistance for their products. While building regulations have reduced most societal risk, individual risks have been gaining prominence, particularly in developed countries where the cost of slip and fall public liability claims is high.

One question that is often asked is, 'have you caused loss and amenity to others by negligent action or omission that otherwise would not have occurred if reasonable care was taken?' Whether or not we agree with slip resistance requirements, the community at large expects floors to be aesthetically pleasing and be adequately safe for its intended use. Although these may sometimes appear to be competing performance objectives, these can be overcome by using safe design principles.

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Safe design employs a risk management approach and evaluating safety in terms of the likelihood and consequence of an incident to occur. As well as providing slip resistant flooring other design features should be considered and include awnings, airlocks and matting to reduce the extent and likelihood of contamination, visual aids (warning signage and contrasting stair nosings), administrative controls (cleaning regimes and maintenance), fall prevention aids (barricades and handrails) and consideration the environmental conditions (lighting and sloping surfaces) along with the footwear to be worn.