Reducing the slip risk at entrances, the role of matting
The entrance to any building presents the designer with an opportunity to create that all-important first impression to visitors. Of course, the first impression may not be favourable if the visitors injure themselves slipping on a wet floor. The entrance matting therefore plays a vital role in reducing the likelihood of the floor inside the building becoming wet. Standards for mats have tended to focus on removing dirt and grit from the shoes to protect the floor, rather than protecting the user from slip accidents. In the UK, the Entrance Flooring Systems Association (EFSA) has recently developed a laboratory test method to quantify water removal. In order to validate the method for inclusion in the standards, the Health & Safety Laboratory and EFSA have undertaken a study of pedestrian flow at entrances and simulated the use of entrance matting in the laboratory. Fieldwork showed that whilst most premises use entrance matting, only 25％ of premises managers thought that it was effective for stopping water ingress. The laboratory trials suggest that even for low numbers of visitors, 3m or more of entrance matting may be needed. The experimental findings are backed up by evidence from a major UK retailer that has been successful in reducing accidents by significantly increasing the size of their entrance mats.
Kevin Hallas Steve Thorpe Kirsty Ormerod Mike Nunney Kevin Pillinger
Health & Safety Laboratory, An Agency of the Health & Safety Executive,Harpur Hill, Buxton, SK17 9JN Entrance Flooring Systems Association, BTTG Testing and Certification Ltd,Wira House, West Park Ring Entrance Flooring Systems Association, BTTG Testing and Certification Ltd, Wira House, West Park Rin
国际会议
17th World Congress on Ergonomics(第十七届国际人类工效学大会)
北京
英文
1-6
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）