Slip resistance of industrial floor surfaces: development of an elastomer suited to in-situ measurement.
Slips contribute to 12% of occupational accidents. A slip resistant floor is a mean to prevent slipping accidents occurring in workshops. Floor slip resistance is often evaluated by measuring a friction index, proportional to the force opposing slipping of a reference elastomer on the floor surface under test. When implementing a portable appliance, slip resistance measurements carried out on lubricated floors were not stabilized. The authors advanced the hypothesis of oil impregnating the elastomer. A new elastomer suited to in-situ measurement has been developed to achieve stable measuring conditions. This study highlights the fact that the nature and characteristics of a reference elastomer must be specified when slip resistance measurements are carried out.
Leclercq
S
S
Working Life Department, French National Research and Safety Institute, Avenue de Bourgogne, BP 27, 54501 Vandoeuvre Cedex, France. leclercq@inrs.fr
Saulnier
H
H
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020724:Elastomers; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings / Q000592:standards*; D005602:France; D007221:Industry; D008422:Materials Testing
D020724:Elastomers