Risk Control Services (RCS) recently released the results of a statistical research study comparing ten slip resistance floor treatment products. RCS conducted the research to assist clients in finding effective solutions for reducing potential losses resulting from the second most frequent injury qualifying for workers' compensation benefits - the "slip and fall" accident. Slips and falls also account for a majority of general liability claims in real estate, financial and retail operations. Their causes and control are therefore critical to successful loss control.
"While there are hundreds of floor surface treatments on the market today claiming to improve slip resistance, the efficacy of any given product was unknown," said Steven Di Pilla, director of product development and training for Risk Control Services, and principal architect of the study.
"With the goal of offering our clients more meaningful recommendations, this study demonstrates the wide range of effectiveness among slip-resistance treatments," Di Pilla continued. "While most of the products tested provided some measure of improvement, others actually decreased slip resistance on flooring materials, while still others offered what they claimed was adramatic marked improvement in slip resistance. Overall, their effectiveness varied widely, particularly on wet surfaces."
John Ingram, vice president of ESIS Risk Control Services, said, "Our Slip Resistance Floor Treatment Study marks the start of our intention to develop a nexus of research in this developing field. Up until now, there has been no recognized methodology to reliably test the many products available commercially. But by using the Variable Incidence Tribometer (a slip resistance test measurement device), we have been able to obtain scientifically accurate results - results we can then use to formulate more focused and effective recommendations to our clients.
"Our product research and development team is hard at work generating new ideas and innovative methods for the successful implementation of those ideas - all aimed at reducing total loss costs," Ingram added.
While product manufacturers (at the request of some) are not named in the version of the Slip Resistance Floor Treatment Study available for public distribution, all ten manufacturers participated willingly. Flooring samples of glazed ceramic and marble were first tested untreated. Vendors then applied their product to pre-assigned samples and returned them to ESIS RCS. The treated samples were re-tested under matching conditions, including the same operator, test device, and even substantially similar humidity and temperature. These results were then compared with the pre-treatment readings. The statistical comparison and analysis of both sets of results was performed by David Underwood, Ph.D., an analytical chemist and member of the American Society for Testing and Materials technical committee F-13, which develops consensus standards and methodologies for slip resistance testing.
The final results offer the first clear evidence from a sound scientific study that significant differences among slip resistance floor treatment products does exist. At the same time, the results suggest that manufacturers' claims cannot always be used as a reliable guideline in selecting the right products to assist in avoiding potential "slip and fall" loss costs.
For more information about the ESIS Slip Resistance Study please contact John Ingram at John.Ingram@ACE-INA.COM, or ESIS Sales and Marketing at (215) 640-1362, or at WWW.ESIS.COM.
Risk Control Services is part of ESIS, Inc., one of the industry's oldest and largest risk management services companies, and part of ACE USA, the U.S.-based operating division of the ACE Group of Companies. Nationwide, the ESIS Risk Control Services organization is dedicated to working with clients to prevent injury to people, liability to organizations, and damage to property. Our loss prevention specialists continue to develop their expertise through training, experience and research.