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Safe or Not?

The Services Industry frequently contends with a scenario where we must mop or clean an area of the floor while our guests, employees, or vendors are traversing walkways. As with any endeavor such as this, there is always an element of risk.


Is what is shown here a safe situation or not?

Well, first we should ask what our basis is for saying it is safe or not safe. Many times, I see professionals with in the industry using their individual opinions or even emotional opinions as to their basis, rather than what the industry has deemed safe. The industry basis for what is safe comes from regulation, codes, and standards.






Regulation, codes, and standards state the following:

  • Walkways must remain free and clear of recognized hazards.

  • Walkways must be maintained to a safe condition for use.

  • Warnings or barricades must be utilized if the walkway is hazardous.

In other words, we never want people walking on a hazardous walkway. That is the rule.

The photographs show plenty of warning signs, so it must be safe right?

If we look further at some of the language within the standards, the standards speak specifically to signs and warnings. Warnings must be:

Perceived in time to deter.

  • Recognized before contacting a hazard.

  • Placed in a manner to allow for recognition and perception to allow for alternate actions by a person approaching a hazard.

  • Compliant with OSHA and ANSI signing standards.

In this situation, while nine out of ten times, tragedy might be avoided it would only take one time for a distracted person or person with a sight disability to walk into the danger zone and on the wet flooring between the signs viewed in this photograph.

A service dog, for example, may not deter their human out of the danger, but only around the signs.

These risks are evident when we apply a “what if” Risk Assessment technique to the situation.

Recommendations

Use caution tape or fencing (even shopping carts will work) to form a barricade around the work area so that anyone distracted or having disability contact the barrier before they contact the hazard (wet floor).

If a barricade is not an option, then use one or two employees to shadow the person moping.

These employees direct foot traffic around the work area, use their voices to audibly provide warning while also having signs posted.

Both techniques and in combination provide the least amount of risk while making the situation as safe as practicable. The goal – to clean the floor while creating less chance of an incident occurring. A property might get away with less many times before having a fall incident.

The problem? Falls have minor to severe consequences, including death. That one incident may offset all the honorable deeds of the past or most important impact that person more so than we intended. The goal is to bring everyone home safe, after all, is it not?

Therefore, is this situation safe or not safe?

References:

ANSI 1264.2 2012 Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces

ANSI Z535.2 Environmental and Facility Safety Signs

ASTM F1637-19 Standard Practice for Safe Walkway Surfaces

OSHA 1910.22 Walkways

OSHA 1910.145 Specifications for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags

NSFI B101.8 2020 Standard Guide for Floor Safety Management Program for Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention


About the Author – John Peterson - Safety Expert is a Commercial Safety Expert who specializes in Service, restaurant and retail, and commercial property safety. John evaluates safety plans, prevention plans, and strategies for slip, trip, and fall prevention. John also evaluates incidents involving striking, collisions, colliding with, or materials handling events where someone was hit or struck by equipment. For more information, please visit our website at www.rlcsafety.com.

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