Stop the injuries due to slip and fall.
World Health Organization (WHO) states that falls are the SECOND leading cause of accidental or unintentional deaths worldwide each year after road accidents. A staggering 684,000 deaths are recorded globally due to falls or 37,300,000 cases of falls annually that are severe enough for immediate medical attention.
It can happen to anyone. Our loved ones, our elderly parents, our wife that is pregnant or our children can suffer injuries due to this.
4 factors that determine the cause of slip and fall.
- The floor materials
- The behaviuor of walking i.e. speed, weight and attention given;
- Footwear that is used or bare feet
- Contaminants like liquid or lubricants on the floor
The number ONE determining factor is the floor materials, when chosen appropriately from design stage, will help to avoid slips and injuries.
Certain countries namely Japan and Australia conditioned their public flooring and walkways to meet the strict guideline of slip resistance before considering the options of floor materials that are available. We hope our country can do the same.
Generally, 2 test methods that are widely used and referred to are the British Wet Pendulum Slip Resistant Test and the German Oil Wet Ramp Slip Resistant Test which are independent of each other. Each has a scale of P1 to P5 and R9 to R13 respectively where the lowest slip resistance starts with P1 for British Standard; and R9 for German Standard; and the highest being P5; and R13 accordingly.
With this rating, the floor material can be classified as High Slip Risk (P1 and R9), Moderate Slip Risk (P2-P3 and R10) and Low Slip Risk (P4-P5 and R11 and above). Very high slip resistance will have floor materials being filled with micro and macro roughness that can be a challenge to clean and maintain. On the other hand, easy-to-clean materials will not have enough slip resistance when the floor is wet.
What then? Well, we have the option to ideally settle for P3 or R10 slip resistance floor materials for us to have the best of both worlds in terms of slip resistance and easy maintenance properties.
Negligence and accidents can be prevented if we know what is the best floor materials to choose from in anticipation of the sort of contaminant an area is exposed to. For example, the swimming pool area will need to use floor materials that have a P4 or R11 rating of Low Slip Risk floor materials.
TILES can achieve the required standard of Slip Resistance as it is widely used while providing beautiful and vast design choices. It is a practical and highly favoured floor material. Just remember to request for slip resistance TILES with a P4 or R11 rating if used in a constantly wet area.
If we plan well, we save lives as our loved ones deserve better. The onus is on us to choose the right floor materials.
Get in touch with us to understand this better.
