3. Best Walking Surfaces For Safe Environments
Once the safety team has identified the most problematic areas, retrofit them with high-traction, slip-resistant surfaces. When choosing the materials, the two most important factors are coefficient of friction (COF) and durability.
COF measures the resistance between two surfaces, such as the resistance between the floor and the tread on a person’s shoe. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) all mandate a high COF for walkways.Looking through the dual lenses of COF and durability can make flooring materials choices relatively easy. Some materials have good durability, but only provide suitable traction in select environments. Diamond plate provides acceptable slip-resistance when it’s completely dry.
However, when wet or oily, diamond plate’s COF plummets, rendering it ineffective for many applications.
Metal surface technologies, which are bonded to surfaces at high pressure, effectively combine long-term slip-resistance and durability. These surface technologies, like those fabricated by SLIPNOT, create thousands of microscopic peaks and valleys. The peaks act as contact points, delivering high traction, while the valleys draw away water, oils, and other liquids.
This surface technology can be applied to ladders, stairs, grates, drain covers, and floor plates—anything made of steel, stainless steel, or aluminum. Also, because the peaks and valleys have different heights and depths, bonded metal does not lose its slip-resistant properties with wear, providing durable protection for a decade or more.
Conducting a rigorous safety audit, and remediating any issues it identifies, is simply the right thing to do. In workspaces, it is a practical way to improve productivity. In public spaces it ensures guest, clients, and customers are safe with every step they take.
Davidson is the CEO and President of SLIPNOT safety flooring products and surface technologies. He is passionate about helping organizations support their operational goals through improved workplace and employee safety and productivity. Based on his leadership roles at Trane Technologies, Armstrong Fluid Technology, Daikin Applied Americas, Con Edison Solutions, and Honeywell, he understands the unique needs of customers in healthcare, facility management, manufacturing, and industrial environments.
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