Slip Safety Presentation to SPIAO

We recently presented to SPIAO (Society of Public Insurance Administrators of Ontario) an overview of Traction Auditing and Slip Safety & Prevention. The group was very well attended with over 45 members and non-members in attendance.

The discussion included an overview of the 9 ANSI/NFSI B101 Standards (American National Standards Institute & National Floor Safety Institute) governing the standards to aid in the prevention of slips and falls through education, research and standards development.

Included was a news alert pertaining to a new and upcoming OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) ruling pertaining to walkways on the horizon. For those in charge, they will need to do far more. They will need to keep accurate records of their cleaning practises and periodically test these floors for their slip-resistance and maintain certain levels of COF (Coefficient of friction).

It is anticipated that OSHA’s new walkway ruling will require employers to contract with a third party or designate a staff member to oversee floor safety. This “Qualified Person” will measure the slip resistance of floors and determine what steps may be needed to improve its traction.

After the final rule is published, employers covered by the rule will be required to comply to the rule, according to an OSHA spokesperson. Failure to do so may result in OSHA citations and subsequent fines for that employer.

OSHA is part of the United States Department of Labor.