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.
Working Life Department, French National Research and Safety Institute, Avenue de Bourgogne, BP 27, 54501 Vandoeuvre Cedex, France. leclercq@inrs.fr
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Saulnier
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020724:Elastomers; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings / Q000592:standards*; D005602:France; D007221:Industry; D008422:Materials Testing
D020724:Elastomers