Global Safe Technologies' solve commercial kitchen slippery floor nightmares
Commercial kitchen owners and managers generally face slippery
floor issues in their kitchens. This is especially evident when the surface is
tiled and the contamination is caused by oil. Staff in most instances, do not
have time during the shift to clean up the spills immediately, which means that
the oil is carried on shoes to other parts of the kitchen. This then makes the
whole floor a slip and fall accident waiting to happen. Latest available
statistics* show that slips trips and falls are still a leading cause of
injuries in the hospitality industry.
Once the risk has been identified the manager tries to solve the issue asking
staff to wear suitable anti slip shoes, using mats, anti slip treatments and
some extreme cases resurfacing the entire kitchen which is a very costly exercise
and depending on the solution may only provide a safe floor for a short term.
Some remedial treatment companies offer chemical treatments for tiled surfaces -
virtually all acid based etching - which are usually very short term solutions
and may only be effective when the contamination is solely water. If oil
contaminates the surface and is not immediately cleaned up, the treatment is
rendered totally useless. These chemical treatments do not on the whole etch
into the surface, to a depth suitable to displace oil (70μm - micron).
The UK HSE specifies the following surface roughness required for adequate slip
resistance for various contaminants.
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Minimum roughness (Rz)
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Contaminant
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20 μm
45 μm
60 μm
70 μm
Above 70 μm
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Clean water, coffee, soft drinks.
Soap solution, milk.
Cooking stock.
Motor oil, olive oil.
Gear oil, margarine.
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To achieve the required surface roughness you will need to consider either a
coating solution or anti slip strips. The coating could be either polyurethane
or epoxy based, with aggregate. To ensure that you will get the right solution
for your environment, ask for an independent slip resistance test result of the
proposed coating as well as an accelerated wear test result. This will ascertain
how long the solution is going to last. Some coatings will become ineffective
within a year or within months and then client faces having to have the floor
resurfaced. This is a time consuming and costly exercise that can also result
in having to close the kitchen for a period of time - therefore the possibility
of lost income and unhappy clients.
Anti slip strips are only offered by a very limited number of companies. This
solution can be very effective and long lasting. Our advice is to still ask for
an independent slip resistance test and an accelerated wear test to have a realistic
picture how long the proposed solution is expected to last.
Other important factors to consider when strips applied are;
- Width of the strip and the gap between strips. Strips should be at least 50mm
wide, but can be wider. The gap between the strips should not be more than 100mm
and it might even be more prudent to consider 75mm or even 50mm gaps.
- Strips are placed into the way of the main traffic. This could require that
the strips be placed in an angle.
- Strips are covering not only the directly contaminant exposed surfaces, but
also areas where the contaminant can be carried over. For example while in the
kitchen the most likely place for oil contaminant is in front of the main cooking
area, the oil on the shoe will be carried over to the washing areas, serving area
and even to cool rooms. It is also important that the slip resistance of the
adjoining areas would be close to each other, otherwise a nasty surprise will
await the person when moving at high speed with hands full from one area to
another expecting the same slip resistance.
Obviously the proper and regular cleaning and maintenance of the floor is another
important subject to ensure that the anti slip floor will remain slip resistant
for an extended period of time.
Global Safe Technologies have successfully completed Safe Grip work in several
restaurants and kitchens where previous anti slip treatments proved to be ineffective.
They have a solution for nearly all floor surfaces.
Another important factor to consider is whether the company offers any staff training
in cleaning and maintenance, or an ongoing monitoring service for the floor surface.
Global Safe Technologies caters for this aspect and offers at No Additional Cost its
industry unique risk management program called the Floor Safety Maintenance Program©.
For further information on the Global Safe Technologies Australia’s non slip solutions
range of products in Australia call us on the toll free number 1300 668 620 or visit our
website www.globalsafe.com.au/index.php#solution.
If you have any specific concern about your floor surface and would like to contact an
Authorised Dealer in your area visit http://www.globalsafe.com.au/contactus.php.
An Authorised Dealer will contact and arrange an appointment with you will visit your
site to assess the floor safety risk of your specific situation and will provide you
with a complimentary FREE Floor Safety Inspection Report.
* Source: The ASCC Online Statistics Interactive National Workers' Compensation Statistics Databases.
** Source: Assessing the slip resistance of flooring UK HSE article.
For further information contact:
Global Safe Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd
phone: 1300 668 620
web: www.globalsafe.com.au
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