Aquatic Research is Slippery Business

From the Safety Guys: Vince McLeod, CIH and Glenn Ketcham, CIH

Aquatic research facilities are prime candidates for slips and falls. The constantly wet surfaces, frequent spills and splashes, proximity to water for most facilities, potential boating activities, etc. all combine to make aquatic research facilities some of the most vulnerable places for slips, trips, and falls. This issue, the Safety Guys offer a few tips on preventing these types of accidents.

Again and again, we hear about the dangers of slips, trips, and falls and the heavy cost associated with the resulting injuries. A few recent statistics hammer home the reality of the concern:

• Slips and falls account for 12% of all work-related deaths.
• Fatal injuries by slips and falls rank second behind motor vehicle deaths in the workplace.
• Slips and falls cause over 300,000 disabling injuries and deaths annually.
• Costs in compensation (wages and medical) as a result of slipping accidents average $6,717 per occurrence (more than 41% above the average of all other accidents).
• Work-related accidents in the United States cost 34.8 billion annually.¹

Look at the Big Picture
There are many reasons for slips and falls, but they have one thing in common – they can usually be prevented. Accidents do happen; however, by using a common sense approach and by following some simple key steps, we can avoid the major causes of slips and falls. As in other safety programs, employee participation and vigilance are key to success. This is especially important with trips, slips, and falls as the hazards are dynamic, i.e. constantly changing, so it is imperative that employees observe and take preventative action during their day-to-day activities.

The first thing to do is take the time to survey your facility and try to identify potential problem areas. Once these trouble zones are spotted, you can evaluate fixes or different control measures. Next, implement the corrections and controls. Now, it is a simple matter to perform a facility inspection at regular intervals by maintaining, repairing, and replacing controls as needed.

We know from experience that rough, dry concrete sidewalks have good traction and that icy, wet, or smooth surfaces often do not. The technical term for this is coefficient of friction (COF). The higher the COF, the more traction that surface offers. Field measurement of COF is difficult and often inaccurate. The COFs mentioned are from lab data on dry surfaces. For most walking and working surfaces, we should aim for a COF of 0.40 or greater for best traction. As a reference, the dry, rough concrete sidewalk may have a COF of 1.0 or more while a wet, smooth surface such as ceramic tile or ice can be as low as 0.10. Let us keep that in mind as we begin our survey.

Take a Walk on the Outside
Start by taking a tour around the outside of your research facility. Make a list of the usual suspects when it comes to areas where trips and falls occur most frequently. These include entrances, sidewalks, steps, and ramps. Take note of the different surfaces and whether they have good traction. We suggest trying the “scuff test” of sliding or kicking your foot along the surface in both dry and wet conditions. If the surface seems slippery, then it is a good candidate for non-skid epoxy, coatings or non-slip treads. Areas in locales with wet weather that are frequently used should consider permanent coverings in addition to reduce slipping.

Are the usual suspects likely to get wet at times other than inclement weather? For example, does the irrigation system or sprinklers hit these potential trouble spots? If so, have it corrected immediately. Does their proximity to water, such as boat docks or launch ramps, lead to regular wetting? Then, non-skid coatings with very high COF are a must.

Do not overlook shipping and receiving areas or loading docks. These high-traffic areas are often exposed and must have excellent traction due to the added hazards of moving loads in and out. Also, make sure all steps, ramps, and elevated docks have appropriate guard rails.

Another hazard to look for is uneven surfaces. Very small changes in elevation can lead to a trip from a “stubbed” toe resulting in a fall. In fact, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires differences to be ¼ “ or less.² The best fix is to fill in or grind down the opposing areas to smooth them out. If that is not practical, consider yellow safety markings to draw attention to the change in levels.

Since most research facilities do not adhere to strict 8 to 5 work days and activities can take place before and after daylight hours, make sure you visit your trouble spots in the dark to evaluate the lighting. It is helpful and recommended that a good-quality light meter be used for this survey and results compared to the national consensus standards.

Inside Track
Continuing our inspection indoors we encounter a variety of uses, each with different requirements. Typically we have offices, break rooms, canteens and perhaps cafeterias, receiving and storage areas, workshops, and of course laboratories and aquaria or tank rooms. The floor surfaces and the hazards vary with the intended use.

Housekeeping issues are the number one reason for trips and falls indoors. Therefore, avoiding clutter and keeping floors and walkways clear is important for all areas. Check for stray or inappropriate cords such as extension cords and computer or phone cables, and reroute them properly. Ensure mats lie flat and secure them if they tend to move. Repair bulges in carpet and take extra care where floor surfaces change; for example, where carpet meets tile or other flooring, to keep them smooth and trip-free.

Receiving areas, storage, and workshops present special challenges and need a non-slip floor with a high COF. It is a good idea to designate paths and walkways with on-floor markings to aid in keeping these areas clear.

Tank rooms and aquaria housing areas need special attention. It is highly recommended that walking and working surfaces in these areas have non-skid coatings due to the frequently wet conditions. Use anti-fatigue mats where employees must stand for long periods. Make sure employees know to clean up any spills immediately. In addition, expanding your lighting survey to indoor areas is another recommended prevention task.

Summary
Taking a few hours to inspect your research facility will go a long way in preventing slips, trips, and falls. Most fixes and corrections are low-cost and easily installed and maintained. Given the costs associated with the alternatives, it is hard to argue against a good slip, trip, and fall program.

References

1. http://stats.bls.gov/iif/home.htm U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities. Washington, D.C.
2. http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), U.S. Department of Justice. 1990
3. ANSI A1264.1-1995 Safety Requirements for Workplace Floor and Wall Openings, Stairs and Railing Systems, American National Standards Institute, Washington, D.C. 1995
4. ANSI A1264.2-2001 Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces, American National Standards Institute, Washington, D.C. 2001
5. Walking and Working Surfaces, 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, Washington, D.C. 1998
6. ASTM D2047-04 Standard Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine, American Society of Testing and Materials International, West Conshohocken, PA. 2004 www.astm.org.
7. ASTM F802-83(2003) Standard Guide for Selection of Certain Walkway Surfaces When Considering Footwear Traction, American Society of Testing and Materials International, West Conshohocken, PA. 2003

Vince McLeod is a Certified Industrial Hygienist by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and the senior IH with the University of Florida’s Environmental Health and Safety Division. He has 15 years of experience in all facets of occupational health and safety and specializes in hazard evaluation and exposure assessments.

Glenn Ketcham is a Certified Industrial Hygienist with 20 years experience in the health and safety field. He is currently the Risk Manager for the University of Florida. He has worked as a USDOL/OSHA compliance officer and has program management experience in general OSHA compliance, laboratory and chemical safety, workplace ergonomics, loss prevention, disaster preparedness, and classical industrial hygiene.