Kevin Hallas MBA

Abstract: A critical appraisal of the Shoe Slip Tester, SST, is discussed the paper. The SST is designed to be a portable and practical alternative to the Ramp tester which is currently considered the Gold Standard in slip resistance testing. Tests identical safety shoe samples were carried out using the SST and RAMP in parallel and the data yielded compared. Data showed that the Shoe Slip Tester yielded higher coefficients of friction. Controlling the data for force applied at shoe impact gave… Show more

Abstract: A critical appraisal of the Shoe Slip Tester, SST, is discussed the paper. The SST is designed to be a portable and practical alternative to the Ramp tester which is currently considered the Gold Standard in slip resistance testing. Tests identical safety shoe samples were carried out using the SST and RAMP in parallel and the data yielded compared. Data showed that the Shoe Slip Tester yielded higher coefficients of friction. Controlling the data for force applied at shoe impact gave good correlation between the two devices. Recommendations are made to the design of the SST from data in this paper. Recommendations will improve correlation between the two devices. The SST can be said to be a suitable alternative. Show less

Abstract
Stairs present significant potential for harm to their users. A fall on stairs, particularly in descent, often leads to serious injury or even death. The authors have been involved in the investigation of many workplace stair accidents. Proper forensic investigation into the cause of a stair accident has often found the incident to be wholly or partly caused by poor stair design. In order to establish the relationship between the stair design and a given fall, an onsite survey has… Show more

Abstract
Stairs present significant potential for harm to their users. A fall on stairs, particularly in descent, often leads to serious injury or even death. The authors have been involved in the investigation of many workplace stair accidents. Proper forensic investigation into the cause of a stair accident has often found the incident to be wholly or partly caused by poor stair design. In order to establish the relationship between the stair design and a given fall, an onsite survey has to be conducted, determining the rises and goings along with other key dimensions. The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), Buxton, UK, regularly undertake this type of survey using a digital inclinometer, a steel rule and a tape measure. Laser scanning is an emerging technique that is now accessible to the surveyor to complement or replace traditional approaches. The laser scanner and associated software produces a dense point survey in 3D, allowing dimensional analysis of the features. The authors used both traditional and laser scanning techniques to study the scenes of two fatal stair falls. The analysis presented allows the suitability of laser scanning for stair-fall investigation to be considered. Identification and classification of errors are needed in order to consider if the error is acceptable or can be mitigated. Laser scanners are impressive instruments providing data from which can be used to create a virtual 3D environment that can be used to reconstruct and explain an event and contributing factors. The use of both survey methods currently provides the investigator with complimentary data that allows accurate measurements to be presented in the context of the three-dimensional environment. Show less

Stairs present significant potential for harm to their users. This paper outlines recent research into stair accidents,
including forensic accident investigations undertaken by staff at the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) in the UK. The
major contributory factors to stair accidents are discussed and common themes and emerging patterns are described. Using
measurements made, and other relevant information gathered during the research and accident investigations, HSL, on
behalf of… Show more

Stairs present significant potential for harm to their users. This paper outlines recent research into stair accidents,
including forensic accident investigations undertaken by staff at the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) in the UK. The
major contributory factors to stair accidents are discussed and common themes and emerging patterns are described. Using
measurements made, and other relevant information gathered during the research and accident investigations, HSL, on
behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), have developed a tool kit for lay users to facilitate a basic site-based
assessment of the important physical aspects of stairs. The tool kit is discussed, including feedback from recent trials by
health and safety professionals and lay users.

Better standards supported by better complementary information are gradually being published. This should lead to safer
design and construction of stairs in the future. However the legacy of existing stairs will present a significant hazard for
many years to come. There are several, often very simple and relatively inexpensive, things that can be done to make these
existing stairs safer. The size of the steps, the consistency of step dimensions, the provision of suitable handrails and good
visibility of key features are all things that should be considered as a priority.
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Over 50% of accidents in the healthcare sector are related to slips, trips and falls, both to staff and to patients. These accidents often result in serious injury and due to the vulnerability of the client group, in some cases have contributed to fatalities. The selection of suitable flooring is an important factor in the prevention of slips, as required by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. As such, where the floor will get wet or contaminated in normal use, the… Show more

Over 50% of accidents in the healthcare sector are related to slips, trips and falls, both to staff and to patients. These accidents often result in serious injury and due to the vulnerability of the client group, in some cases have contributed to fatalities. The selection of suitable flooring is an important factor in the prevention of slips, as required by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. As such, where the floor will get wet or contaminated in normal use, the floor should not be slippery. NHS Trusts have raised the issue of hygienic cleaning of safety floors, since the texture of slip resistant surfaces may have potential implications for the surface cleaning efficacy. The current research was carried out to compare the levels of bacterial contamination remaining after cleaning, for floors with a range of slip resistance. The results show that a range of flooring with slip resistance ranging from a Pendulum Test Value (PTV) of 14 to a PTV of 50 were used for the study. These present a high slip potential when wet and a low slip potential when wet respectively. The contact plate bacteria counts show that each of the floors in the study can be cleaned to a hygienic standard using the standard cleaning practices. The ability to clean a typical hospital floor to a hygienic standard is not influenced by the slip resistance of the flooring. Therefore, the cleanability of the flooring should not be a barrier to the use of slip resistant flooring in foreseeably wet or contaminated work areas in hospitals. Show less

The Health Safety Executive estimates that around 35% of workplace slip accidents occur in sectors where the provision of safety footwear is the norm. Given the inclusion of slip resistance testing of footwear in the European Standard in 2007(EN 20344,20345 20346),it might be expected that the number of these accidents would start to fall. The test method used within the standard produces a coefficient of friction value for the footwear/floor/contaminant combination. The outcome of the test is… Show more

The Health Safety Executive estimates that around 35% of workplace slip accidents occur in sectors where the provision of safety footwear is the norm. Given the inclusion of slip resistance testing of footwear in the European Standard in 2007(EN 20344,20345 20346),it might be expected that the number of these accidents would start to fall. The test method used within the standard produces a coefficient of friction value for the footwear/floor/contaminant combination. The outcome of the test is presented as SRA,SRB or SRC, indicating that the footwear achieved a minimum friction requirement under specific conditions. Compared with the levels of friction that pedestrians are thought to require for normal gait, the minimum friction requirements defined in the Standard are considered by HSL to be too low. So, does the test provide the footwear buyer with an opportunity to select footwear that will reduce the slip risk in their workplace? Possibly, but only if they delve deeper into the standard and use the proposed Informative Annex to probe the footwear supplier for more information, such as the actual friction value achieved in the tests.Even then, they would need to compare the test conditions with their own work environment, and consider other requirements of the footwear such as toe protection, comfort, durability, etc.The good news is that some employers have identified effective footwear, and can demonstrate significant reductions in slip accidents. Show less

The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) use the Pendulum skid resistance tester to determine the dynamic coefficient of friction (CoF) of a floor surface. This test correctly models the interaction between the pedestrian heel and the floor during normal pedestrian gait. Sled-type tests do not simulate these conditions correctly and are often unable to distinguish between contaminated and uncontaminated surfaces. Roller coaster-type tests could potentially overcome the limitations of the more… Show more

The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) use the Pendulum skid resistance tester to determine the dynamic coefficient of friction (CoF) of a floor surface. This test correctly models the interaction between the pedestrian heel and the floor during normal pedestrian gait. Sled-type tests do not simulate these conditions correctly and are often unable to distinguish between contaminated and uncontaminated surfaces. Roller coaster-type tests could potentially overcome the limitations of the more traditional tests. They utilize a ramp to bring the slider into contact with the floor whilst in motion. In wet conditions this generates a squeeze film of contamination, in a similar fashion to the Pendulum or pedestrian heel, and this may allow them to correctly determine CoF values for contaminated surfaces. Both the Kirchberg Rolling Slider and the SlipAlert tests were able to distinguish between dry floors and contaminated floors. The tests are able to generate a squeeze film of contaminant comparable with that generated by pedestrian gait. The extended testing of SlipAlert showed a good correlation with the Pendulum test when both instruments were fitted with the same slider material (Four-S rubber) and the sliders were prepared in the same manner (conditioning with P400 & pink lapping film). On inhomogeneous surfaces and floors with a mixture of tiles, SlipAlert gives an average friction reading and surface microroughness data should be used to supplement SlipAlert data in order to make a better assessment of the pedestrian slip potential. It is suggested that SlipAlert should be regarded as a good indication of available friction, lending itself to risk assessment, monitoring of floor surfaces and evaluating & monitoring cleaning regimes. It is recommended that when friction measurements are critical (e.g. for a forensic investigation, product specification, etc) the Pendulum test should be used. Show less

The project aim was to establish the underlying reasons for slip, trip and fall accidents to professional drivers. A number of different methodologies were utilised. Many types of vehicle were examined and measured. Vehicle types included Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs), vans and forklift trucks (FLTs). Slipperiness measurements were taken from a variety of surfaces, including load areas, 5 wheel areas, and cab steps. Measurements of cab step heights and depths were taken, and notes made of the… Show more

The project aim was to establish the underlying reasons for slip, trip and fall accidents to professional drivers. A number of different methodologies were utilised. Many types of vehicle were examined and measured. Vehicle types included Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs), vans and forklift trucks (FLTs). Slipperiness measurements were taken from a variety of surfaces, including load areas, 5 wheel areas, and cab steps. Measurements of cab step heights and depths were taken, and notes made of the materials used in all these surfaces. Face-to-face interviews were carried out with 87 drivers and managers were interviewed to explore their opinions about the causes of falls from vehicles. Three focus groups were used to confirm the interview findings and consider how falls from vehicles can be reduced.

The report makes a large number of suggestions for improvements which are believed, will contribute to reducing falls from vehicles. Some recommendations target vehicle designers and manufacturers, or vehicle operators, for example, use of antislip surfaces, improved access and egress provision, improved maintenance and housekeeping of vehicles. Other recommendations are suggestions of actions the HSE could take to further raise awareness of falls from vehicles, such as producing industry specific guidance, working to address shortfalls in current British and European Standards and working with industry bodies to help to tackle the industry’s inherent “rushing” culture. Show less