Don’t pay a heavy price for a slippery floor.

Whether you’re a victim of a slippery surface or an employer facing the costly consequences of having a hazardous workplace, there are simply no winners when it comes to unsafe floors.

Whether in a residential, commercial or industrial environment, the choice of flooring is paramount in minimising slip, trip and fall hazards.

Regulations governing flooring in Australia

Slips and falls are one of the main reasons for accidents and injuries in the workplace and inappropriate floor coverings are often the cause.

In Australia, there is Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) legislation to protect users and employers as well as comprehensive standards set by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) for commercial and industrial sites.

These regulations mandate employers to minimise or eliminate potential areas of risk with regards to floor design and to take every possible step to ensure the safe movement of people in and around buildings.

The BCA provides a national standard for minimising the risks associated with floor coverings, especially in high traffic areas, access and exit areas, areas which are damp, wet or greasy, stairs, walkways, platforms, ramps and emergency exits.

Without these regulations and without compliance to the standards set, pedestrians are vulnerable to injury and employers and building owners are open to costly legal and financial liabilities.

Choosing the right floor covering

When choosing a floor covering, it’s important to ensure it is fit for purpose and that it meets the Australian Standards for floor slip resistance.

Epoxy slip-resistant floors have become a preferred choice of safety flooring for all types of installations – from private homes, changerooms and shopping centres to commercial kitchens, mechanical workshops and warehouses – because they meet the required legislative and building standards.

Their superior slip resistance gives employers and building owners peace-of-mind that their floors are fit for purpose, plus the hard-wearing nature of the material means it is a cost-effective performer over the long-term.

Epoxy floors are known for their durability, even in high traffic and high impact areas and will maintain their non-slip qualities even in wet environments. The floors are also constructed seamlessly from end to end (including coving up the walls if required) which eliminates the likelihood of trip hazards from joints or grouting.

But epoxy floors aren’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. Various particles can be added to these floor coatings to increase the floor’s slip resistance and reduce the risk of accidents and liability.

Slip-resistant epoxy floor coating solutions

Different grades of slip-resistant epoxy floor coatings are available to suit a range of different internal and external applications.

For example, a commercial kitchen where there are plenty of potential hazards including greasy spills, soapy pooled liquid and hot stoves would require a higher level of slip-resistance than say a medical laboratory.

The level of slip resistance is determined by the type of additive or particle to the epoxy floor. Elements that can be added include sand, glass and aluminium oxide – and it is always worth getting expert advice on which one is the most appropriate and most cost-effective solution for a particular environment.

A last word on creating safe epoxy floors using slip-resistant coatings

Epoxy resin floors with slip-resistant coatings have become the preferred flooring option across a diverse range of industries and applications. From a safety and risk management perspective, they meet OH&S standards and national building standards, plus they offer superior performance over the long-term.

Epoxy resin floors not only look good, they are also remarkably durable, easy to maintain and impact-resistant, making them the first-choice in non-slip safety flooring across all industries and applications.

For more information or assistance with safe epoxy in Perth, contact Panther Protective today.

Author bio

Tristan Jenkins is the operation director at Panther Protective Coatings based in Perth, Panther Protective specialises in Epoxy Coatings in commercial settings, including commercial kitchens, factories, workshops, mining spaces and more. More information can be found on their website: https://www.pantherprotective.com.au/