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A Step towards Safety: Cof Testing Explained

Workplace injuries can result in devastating results—a simple fall can mean tragic, disabling injuries and lawsuits that will break the bank of any small business. However, personal suffering and company mayhem can be avoided by taking steps to improve the safety of surfaces at your business locations.

For example, you might consider the use of non-slip coatings and paints, which are easy to apply, quick-drying, and result in improved traction beneath your employees’ feet. Safety tapes are another option you may want to use in certain places around your operation—available in a variety of widths, colors, and patterns, these tapes can provide unobtrusive or eye-catching safety additions.

Advice from the Experts                                  

While some simple solutions can be taken to reduce the risk of falls and increase the traction of surfaces in your business, other methods may be more complicated—that’s where the experts at SlipDoctors come in!

If you’ve ever heard of COF testing, you know that it can provide a great deal of knowledge to someone who is trying to determine the most efficient ways to increase floor safety in their place of work. You may not, however, know exactly what it means or entails or why it’s important.

What Is The COF?

The COF stands for “coefficient of friction,” and friction is a physical property that describes, essentially, how much traction exists between two surfaces. The COF, then, is simply the amount of traction between one’s shoe and the surface beneath it described in a number. This makes it easier for scientists and people like you to understand exactly how slippery a surface is.

At SlipDoctors, we provide COF testing for the surfaces in your work environment (or anywhere else you want to reduce the risk of slips and falls)!

To ask for more information about our COF testing services, to ask any questions about the process, or to schedule a slip audit, contact us at SlipDoctors today. In the meantime, feel free to visit our online store to discover other solutions which can increase safety for you and your employees.

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What Is The “SCOF And DCOF” And Do They Matter?

If you have dedicated to improving safety within your workplace or in the buildings that you build or design, then you’re off to a good start. The statistics surrounding injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls makes it clear that this is an area requiring extra attention.

While there are plenty of ways to deal with this by modifying employee behavior and workplace design, understanding the numbers and the science behind what truly makes a surface slippery can empower your decisions to make more fundamental changes to existing floors or when installing new flooring.

The Basics

Take yourself back to physics or math class for just a few moments. Do you remember something called the COF? The COF, coefficient of friction, is a term used in mathematics to quantify the effect of dragging one substance across another substance. Using the COF, for example, you can understand just how much friction is generated by dragging the sole of your shoe over your floor. More friction means less risk of falling. The less friction there is, the more slippery the surface will feel between the two substances. For example, a COF of 0 means that there is no friction at all.

Going A Little Further

Now that you understand the COF, the next step is understanding the way that this value is tested. The old system of testing involved measuring the static coefficient of friction (SCOF), which is the “static coefficient of friction” measured when both surfaces are at a resting position. According to Stone World magazine, the SCOF is easier to measure in the laboratory than the DCOF.

What’s the DCOF? It stands for “dynamic coefficient of friction,” and it’s the new standard of testing for slip resistance of various flooring materials. While the SCOF measures slip resistance at a standstill, the DCOF is a measurement of slip resistance in motion, which is a much more accurate representation of a floor’s resistance to slipping than a measurement taken without motion.

How Does This Apply to You?

You may be wondering, after skimming this article and reliving mathematical nightmares from your days of school, how these measurements really affect you and your home or workplace. By decreasing the SCOF and DCOF of the flooring in your home or workplace, you will know with mathematical and scientific certainty that your environment comes closer to embracing safety and practicality.

Taking Action

In order to take the first steps towards improving the safety of you and others, consider taking advantage of services such as slip test auditing and slip prevention products provided by the experts at SlipDoctors.

With the help of licensed professionals’ advice and products, you can ensure that you are embracing the safest solutions possible. Eliminate your worries about slip and fall claims or personal injury!

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The Real Cost of A Slip and Fall Lawsuit

Slips, trips, and falls are responsible for the majority of general industry accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns that these incidents are responsible for up to 15% of accidental deaths—second only to deaths due to motor vehicle collisions. Slips and falls are also some of the most frequently reported injuries, contributing about a quarter of reported claims every year.

Importantly, most of these injuries could have been prevented.

Overall Cost Statistics

Slips, trips, and falls in the workplace can result in substantial costs for both the worker involved and the employer. The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index states that the total monetary burden of workplace injuries and illnesses was almost $60 billion in 2014. Slips and falls accounted for about one-fifth of these costs, roughly $11 billion. It is critical that employers understand the extent and variation of these costs so that they can embrace the importance of taking proper preventative action.

Below is a simple but thorough breakdown of the ways that slips and falls in your workplace can drastically increase annual costs.

The Lawsuit

Perhaps one of the most frightening costs to the employer is the lawsuit itself. Customers and employees alike may sue you if they experienced a slip and fall in your establishment. BIC Magazine reports that the average cost for this kind of injury itself is $20,000, while the cost to defend a slip and fall claim is about $50,000. If your company is found responsible for the injury in court, you may be expected to compensate the injured party for their past and future medical bills, lost wages, mental anguish, and pain. Quick math demonstrates that these costs add up quickly (possibly to hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars) and can be a nightmare for your business.

Beyond A Lawsuit

If the individual injured is one of your employees, the considerations extend even further. For example, you may not only be responsible for compensating your employee’s lost wages, but you may also suffer from a decrease in productivity. In some cases, there may be costs associated with hiring and training a replacement employee. You may also be looking at increased insurance premiums.

Preventing Slips, Falls, Lawsuits, And Costs

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to take action against the possibility of slip and fall injuries within your institution.

Maintain proper signage warning     around wet areas

Promptly repair leaks which may     form wet spots on the floor

Encourage your employees to wear     appropriate footwear

Promoting employee training and     awareness of fall prevention

Utilizing solutions such as anti-slip     products to increase     traction

Remember, these injuries and costs are entirely preventable with planning and care! Don’t fall victim to apathy, carelessness, and the costs that result.

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SlipDoctors Assists Local Boy Scouts

To SlipDoctors:

Hello! I am a Boy Scout in Troop 94 in Gates, New York. I am working to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, to do so I must lead a service project to help a non-profit organization.

I am helping the Genesee Museum and Village (www.gcv.org), a historical society that teaches about life in early America. Along one of their trails is an old, curved bridge that has been deemed dangerous by volunteers, staff and visitors alike especially when wet! I thought a good solution to this issue would be a non-slip grip tape and after much research I have found that SlipDoctors has the best reviews in helping to eliminate slips, trips, and falls.

I think the Black Non-Slip Tape – 60 Grit, 4-inch wide tape would be perfect for the bridge. It would take three 60-foot rolls to do all the boards, which is more than I had budgeted for this part of the project. I’m very interested in talking with someone to see if SlipDoctors would help me with my Boy Scout Eagle project!

James Life Scout, Troop 94

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SlipDoctors Announces Three New Anti-Slip Solutions Designed to Reduce Injury

Slips and falls are the second leading cause of death next to motor vehicle accidents

SlipDoctors, the leading developer and manufacturer of anti-slip products worldwide, has today announced three new solutions to prevent risk and injury of employees in the workplace.

Slips and falls are far more common than you realize. These types of incidents, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), create about a quarter of all reported claims per year, and they result in about 15% of all accidental deaths—second only to motor vehicle incidents.

Most important in the analysis of slip, trip, and fall impact on industry and personal life is the fact that most of these injuries could have been prevented.

Companies like SlipDoctors acknowledge the magnitude of these statistics and dedicate their mission to improving the safety of homes, workplaces, and restaurants alike. Because the analysis of these fall risks is a largely scientific endeavor, research is always in motion and influencing future efforts towards safety.

The Latest Slip Solutions

This is why SlipDoctors, the leaders in floor safety advising and solutions, have developed three new anti-slip solutions which can have a major influence on the way that companies, homeowners, managers, and individuals can control the safety of themselves and those around them.

These products allow anyone and everyone to take control of the safety in their workplace and provide coworkers and employees with assurance that their safety is being taken into consideration.

Non-Slip Tape for Bathrooms

The first of these three products is non-slip tape designed for bathrooms. This safety tape is ideal for use in the shower or bathtub, particularly in medical facilities and homes housing individuals who are prone to falls. These high-traction safety tapes come in a variety of colors, including white or clear, so you don’t even have to worry about modifying the aesthetics of your bathroom to implement these new products.

Tuff Grip

Tuff Grip is the most aggressive and effective traction-improvement product offered by SlipDoctors. Applicable to all surfaces both inside and outside, Tuff Grip allows anyone to easily implement safe solutions to their flooring, no matter the material! The coating air dries quickly, and the application only requires a textured roller.

Stone Grip

Designed specifically for stone, porcelain, and ceramic surfaces, SlipDoctors’ Stone Grip is capable of drastically reducing the risks associated with both wet and dry stone floors. Stone Grip is easy to apply and will result in slip resistance that exceeds OSHA’s guidelines.

The experts at SlipDoctors dedicate themselves to improving the lives of their clients by reducing the frequency of devastating, life-changing injuries resulting from slips, trips, and falls. By providing slip auditing services and readily applicable solutions which can increase traction on any surface, SlipDoctors is available to help you take your first steps towards safety and risk reduction.

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How to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Missteps in the Workplace

No one is immune to the risk of slips, trips, and falls. The National Floor Safety Institute lists some staggering statistics related to falls both in and out of the workplace. For example, slips and falls are the most common cause of workers’ compensation claims. For individuals who are 55 years old and older, falls are the leading cause of occupational injury.

The Danger

In addition to the injury itself, it can be bad news for your facility financially if a slip and fall incident results in a lawsuit or if it happens to one of your employees. In order to avoid the problems that may ensue after a fall, it’s essential to first understand what causes slips and falls in the first place. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) breaks down several important risk factors:

Human behavior can increase the risk of falls.

Physical changes within each employee are often responsible for increased rates of slips, trips, and falls. This is why items like corrective eyewear for those in need should be required in the workplace.

Design of the workplace creates common cause for falls. Marking ramps, steps, thresholds, or gaps is a crucial but simple part of any workplace design.

Physical barriers (or lack thereof) increase risk. Clutter, uncovered cables or wires, outdoor debris such as leaves blown inside, or open cabinets can all cause a risk of stumbles and injury.

Solutions

Focusing on the safety of your flooring is paramount. For example, you can work to modify any of the increases in risk listed above. For a few ideas of how you might decrease these probabilities, read below.

Educate yourself. Analyze your workspace and past incidents of slips, trips, and falls. Understand the causes of these incidents and use them to inform future decisions.

Host training sessions to enlighten your employees about behaviors that increase fall risk and provide innovative, practical solutions to modify these behaviors.

Frequently inspect for safety hazards within your workplace and, if necessary, make corrections. This includes fixing leaks, rerouting cables safely, and ensuring that your employees are wearing appropriate corrective eyewear and shoes.

Check out products such as non-slip tape, spray coating for different types of flooring, floor sealing, grab bars and handrails, and more.

Taking Action

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the risks of slips and falls and don’t know which solutions to emphasize in your workplace, you may be a perfect candidate to take advantage of a slip testing audit. Services like these are performed by experts trained in floor safety concepts and research. Analysis of workplace hazards can help you decide where to start when looking for the most effective solutions to reduce fall risk.

Remember, preventing risk is a team effort between you, your employees, and the manufacturers providing slip testing audits and slip solutions. Take advantage of all your resources and maximize communication—it’ll pay off with improved safety ratings for your institution!