Slips and falls better information, fewer accidents OHS Exchange FDF - Willis 22 nd September 2014 www.hsl.gov.uk An An Agency Agency of the of Health the Health and Safety and Executive Safety Executive
HSE Tools Slips assessment tool SAT Slips and trips e learning package STEP HSE Guidance www.hse.gov.uk/slips
Slips, trips and falls 2012/13 Falls from height were the most common cause of fatalities (31%) (RIDDOR) Slips and trips were the most common cause of major injuries to employees, with falls from height the next most common (RIDDOR) Slips, trips and falls were responsible for more than half of all major (56%) and almost a third of over seven day (31%) www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/slips-trips-falls.pdf
Slips and falls Use risk assessment Do them first! Must be based on reliable information
Slip Potential Cleaning
Friction requirements Risk, 1 in Straight walking on the level 1,000,000 0.36 10,000 0.29 20 0.24 2 0.19 PTV 36 and above low slip potential PTV 25 35 moderate slip potential PTV 24 and below high slip potential 6
Friction requirements Requirements higher if moving quickly, turning, carrying, pushing, pulling. For slopes and ramps add the tangent of the angle e.g. 2 degree ramp 0.36 + Tan 2 = 0.36 + 0.04 = 0.40 Design out ramped surfaces where possible Think about adjacencies 7
Pendulum test Imitates heel impact Produce correct fluid dynamics CoF measurement wet and dry HSE/HSL preferred method BS 7976-1,2,3 : 2002 + A1 2013 UKSRG Guidelines V4 2011
Pendulum test Slider 96 for shod areas Slider 55 for barefoot area Use both in dual use areas Profiled surfaces may require additional testing Use same classifications for all test data
DIN Ramp Test DIN 51130 Shod test with motor oil Reported as R9, R10, R11, R12, R13 Class Ramp angle CoF R9 3-10 0.05 0.18 R10 10-19 0.18 0.34 R11 19-27 0.34 0.51 R12 27-35 0.51 0.70 R13 35+ 0.70+
DIN Ramp Test DIN 51097 Barefoot test with soapy water Reported as A, B, C Class Ramp angle CoF A 12-17 0.21 0.31 B 18-23 0.32 0.43 C 24+ 0.44+
Surface Microroughness Useful complementary measurement Range of instruments Quick easy on site measurement Indicator, monitor Used by SAT, risk assessment process www.hse.gov.uk/slips/sat/index.htm Useful on profiles, stairs and steps
Surface Microroughness Helps us understand the surface Not used in isolation Wouldn t specify on Rz Wouldn t go to court on Rz
Profiled surfaces Don t necessarily improve slip resistance Characterise with ramp or pendulum Roughness measurement useful Wear / change quickly
Slip resistant footwear? European Standard EN 20345, 20347 Test method EN13287 Ceramic water SRA Heel 0.28 Flat 0.32 Steel glycerol SRB Heel 0.13 Flat 0.18 Achieve both SRC Tile contribution to SRA? Threshold for SRB? 15
Flooring Specification Set a specification for procurement (remember it s the installed floor) Embed in your organisation Review if accidents occur 16
HSL Ramp Test As a footwear test Steel water Ceramic glycerol Bespoke combinations Two or more operators Reported as CoF
Slip resistant footwear? HSL ramp test Sample Claim Steel - water Safety Boot (toe midsole) No 0.37 Safety Boot (toe midsole) No 0.37 Safety Boot (toe midsole) No 0.36 Wellington (toe midsole) Yes 0.25 Boot (toe) Yes 0.18 Clogs Yes 0.15 18
Footwear Effective footwear available What does safety footwear mean? Validity of EN test method? (EN13287) HSL Ramp method is a valid test Trial a range of footwear in workplace Use peer group information Involve staff, comfort, fit e mail HSL for specific advice / testing Footwear costs less than accidents 19
HSL Ramp Test
Recent Case Study Peripatetic workforce Last year, 70 lost time accidents (48%) Footwear selection on basis of HSL ramp test Footwear trial This year, 1 lost time accident Standard did not help
HSL GRIP rating scheme For more information visit: www.hsl.gov.uk/products
Cleaning greasy floors Correct detergent Concentration very important Contact time most important Solution must be removed Mops only effective on smooth floors
RC (%) Cleaning 100 80 Residual coverage following floor cleaning (Field conditions vs. Two-steps at 24 C) Field (FQT, DM at C and T) Optimal (FQT, 2SM at Rec. And 24 C) 60 40 20 0 K3 (0.07, 72) K16 (0.05, 36) LIFT (0.33, 52) www.irsst.qc.ca FLASH (0.17, 33) FLASH (0.20, 15) FLASH (0.51, 58) DASH (1.22, 22) HSDC (0.11, 10) ULTRA (0.10, 19) OXYGEL (0.11, 54)
Roving cleaner to monitor spills
How effective?
Half and half cleaning
Half and half cleaning gone wrong!
Steps and Stairs Do people slip on stairs? Consistency of dimension Going and rise Shape of nosing Position of nosing strip Visibility of nosing strip Slip resistance of nosing strip
Steps and Stairs Handrails height, position, shape, clearance Guarding Lighting Design out single steps BS5395, 2010 HSL Stair tool HSL Training course available
Steps and Stairs The edge is key Wear Require maintenance 31
Conclusions Better specification Better controls Fewer accidents Saves money! All facilitated by better information 32
HSL offer 400 staff Scientists, engineers and medics 40 specialist teams Unique test facilities Unique breadth of facilities 80% HSE funded 20% OGD and commercial steve.thorpe@hsl.gsi.gov.uk
HSL offer Falls team Site and laboratory testing Audits Accident review Bespoke training Review of plans / designs Expert witness steve.thorpe@hsl.gsi.gov.uk
Questions? steve.thorpe@hsl.gsi.gov.uk