What can employees do? Employees have a role in helping reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls, says Health and Safety Executive (www.hse.gov.uk), an organization that works to prevent death and injury in Great Britain’s workplaces. • If they have an accident or a near miss, they should report it to a supervisor promptly. • If they see a spillage, they should clean it up or make arrangements for it to be cleaned. • Report any damaged fl oors or mats. • Play their part and keep the workplace tidy. • If they see tripping hazards, them, they should remove them or arrange for them to be removed or for the situation to be made safe. • Tell their supervisor about any work situation they think is dangerous, or if they notice that something has gone wrong with their health and safety arrangements. | Cover Story Floor safety Slips, trips and falls are the number two cause of injuries in the U.S., accounting for 40 percent of workers’ compensation and liability claims at a cost of $70 billion per year, says Daniel Silver, vice president of product development for New Pig, and notes that most incidents are the result of unsafe fl oors. “Having a dedicated fl oor safety program is not just a good idea,” he stresses, “it’s a must if you are committed to keeping your employees or anyone visiting your facility safe.” New Pig (www.newpig.com) specializes in products, services and technical expertise for workplace safety and spill containment. Many things can cause a fl oor to be unsafe, he says. For example, when a shop is in an area where rain, snow or ice occur, “you’re going to get water on your fl oors at the entrances, followed by shoes tracking moisture throughout your facility. The same is true of dirt, dust, salt and mud. Dirty shoes deposit particles on your fl oor and reduce your fl oor’s coeffi cient of friction. “Inside the garage, maintenance areas, fueling depots and loading docks, leaks, drips and spills happen,” he adds. “It’s a fact of life in the world of fl eet maintenance. Oil, grease, coolants and fuels are going to reach the fl oors no matter how hard you try to prevent them from getting there.” Because slippery fl oors can lead to slips and falls, it is important to have a plan on how to deal with the inevitable, and execute that plan relentlessly, he advises. Otherwise, shops will need to be ready for injured employees, lost production time, workers’ compensation claims and legal bills. PLAN ELEMENTS Silver says the important elements of a good fl oor safety plan include: • Spill kits with absorbents to soak up leaks, drips and spills. • Proper daily fl oor cleaning, with degreasers, if necessary, to remove oils and grease. • Non-slip shoes to help employees keep safe footing. • A good commercial fl oor matting program to keep fl oors dry and safe. Manufacturers of commercial fl oor mats say they eliminate up to 85 percent of tracked-in dirt and water to reduce fl oor cleaning costs and prevent slips and falls, observes New Pig’s Silver. The most common types of commercial fl oor mats are the carpetedtop, rubber-backed mats that are either delivered weekly by a local laundering service or bought and owned by a shop. While fl oor mats can play a key role in a slip and fall prevention strategy, they can be a potential hazard if these mats are not placed in the proper location or are not regularly maintained. Two particularly suitable locations for commercial fl oor mats are entrance ways and areas where there is a high probability of contaminants, such as dirt, moisture and grease. “No matter what you use, keep fl oors clean and dry, and stay safe,” Silver says. Commercial fl oor mats can help prevent slips and falls when placed in the proper locations and regularly maintained. Photo courtesy of New Pig WASTING MONEY? ...ON PELLETS? ...ON PADS? FLO-DYNAMICS has a better way! 7KH$LU9DFYDFXXPVXSPRVWÁXLGV from coolant to 90W gear oil. HANDHELD WET VAC 1RWUHFRPPHQGHGIRUKLJKO\ ÁDPPDEOHÁXLGVVXFKDVJDVROLQH Visit us at SEMA Booth #10553 )OR'\QDPLFV,QF‡-HDQZRRG'ULYH‡(ONKDUW,1‡‡ZZZÁRG\QDPLFVFRP VehicleServicePros.com/10095173 14 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ OCTOBER 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
FleetMaintenance_October_2016
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