As a retail flooring contractor, East Coast Flooring & Interiors works with many businesses. Slip resistance is always a flooring concern for business owners. Non-slip flooring is one of the easiest ways to avoid injury and liability claims. The fewer slips, trips and falls that occur, the fewer incidents with which you’ll have to contend.
Injury and liability claims aren’t just issued by customers either. They’re also issued by employees (or their loved ones). In fact, 16% of fatal injuries on the job are the result of slips and falls. Even a quick fall onto a hard floor can result in broken bones; spinal, neck and head injuries; or even death. It’s shocking to think that commercial flooring installation can have such an impact on your business’ exposure.
How Do You Minimize the Risk?
Slip Resistance: Consider the slip-resistant properties of your flooring. Rubber tiles are obviously far more slip-resistant than ceramic tiles. This doesn’t mean that you need to choose a different type of flooring than the one you’d like, but it does mean that you have to start from a place of awareness. Any good retail flooring contractor will tell you that slippery flooring requires some treatments for safety.
Treatments: You may not want to change from your ideal flooring choice. That’s ok. There are treatments that can be given to many materials to make them slip resistant. For example, chemical etching is perfect for the porcelain, stone and concrete floors that are often used in retail. In addition, abrasive floor coatings can improve traction.
Carpeting: This is one of the simplest solutions. Carpeting can help with slick surfaces, especially in heavily-traveled areas. Utilize floor mats with non-slip backing in entry areas. These are a must where people may be tracking in rain and mud.
Employee Training: If a spill happens or if an area gets too much moisture in it, employees should know that cleaning the area to making it safe again should be their top priority. Even a chemical-etched or abrasive-coated floor will be slippery when wet. Make sure your employees have easy access to cleaning supplies and warning signs that are in good condition.
A retail flooring contractor can guide you through the flooring installation and safety process. You don’t have to go in blind. At East Coast Flooring & Interiors, we’re very familiar with the flooring choices businesses can make to reduce accident and lawsuit exposure. Our goal is to help you keep your employees and customers safe — and your business protected.