{"id":17989,"date":"2021-07-28T13:29:32","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T11:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.filasolutions.com\/?p=17989"},"modified":"2021-07-28T18:44:41","modified_gmt":"2021-07-28T16:44:41","slug":"guest-expert-advice-a-guide-to-slip-risk-assessments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.filasolutions.com\/en\/guest-expert-advice-a-guide-to-slip-risk-assessments\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Expert Advice | A Guide to Slip Risk Assessments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Slips and trips are a serious matter; in fact, in the workplace, they happen every 3 minutes. It\u2019s, therefore, vital to keep floor surfaces clean and safe to protect your clients and staff, not to mention your bottom line. This week we\u2019re speaking with Christian Harris, founder of Slip Safety Services and host of the Safety & Risk Success Podcast. Read on as we talk about the health and safety of floors and preventing bad falls; here\u2019s a guide to slip risk assessments.<\/span><\/p>\n

How much of a problem are slips and falls?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019Slips and falls are a very big problem, in fact, AXA spends \u00a380m a year on slip accident claims alone. Statistically speaking, over two-thirds of people have either slipped themselves or have a family member who has, and so it\u2019s an issue that affects the vast majority. Shockingly, however, only one in five buildings currently meet the <\/span>HSE guidance<\/span><\/a>. There\u2019s certainly a discrepancy between the size of the problem and the action being taken, but we can only hope a change will come.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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Did you know, every year 300,000 people go to A&E after a slip or fall?<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

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Can these kinds of accidents be prevented?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019Absolutely – they can be stopped, but only if you have a proactive approach.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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Accidents can be easily prevented, but <\/span>only if you have a proactive approach!<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

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What do people need to know to reduce the risk?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019We have developed a model that we have dubbed CHIMES, setting out the six main causes of slips. This acronym stands for Contamination, Heal, Individual, Maintenance, Environment and also Surface. To make a significant difference, you need a holistic approach and a look at these factors in-depth. When we explain this methodology to people, we usually get the same reaction – not many realise how much there is to consider.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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The model \u2018CHIMES\u2019 sets out <\/span>the six reasons people slip<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

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Flooring is clearly important – how do you know if a floor is safe?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019A key part of trying to solve risk is to quantify it, even with health and safety. You can actually scientifically quantify how safe floor surfaces are, which not many people realise, and this is called the <\/span>Pendulum Test.<\/span><\/a> Both the courts and HSE use this to measure the slip resistance of floors, which mimics the heel striking the surface. The output of the test is a number called a pendulum test value, and there are three categories; let\u2019s take a look at what they mean.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n