3 Smart Industrial Flooring Tactics For Improving Workplace Safety

Accidents are unpredictable. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), floors and flooring materials contribute directly to more than 2 million fall-related injuries each year. But, there are ways you can keep your workers safe and productive by being smart about industrial flooring choices, since your floors are the first line of defense against workplace accidents like slips, trips, and falls. 

DIRECT TRAFFIC FLOW WITH WELL-MARKED FLOORING

A well-marked floor with lines, arrows, and pathways help with directing employee foot traffic to prevent bottlenecks and traffic jams on the production floor.

Directional lines also establish areas for foot traffic and vehicular traffic, separating them to avoid accidental collisions.

Floor paint can be used as a solution for establishing these lines and directional pathways, but use caution as floor paint tends to wear and must be maintained constantly. The safer option would be to look into an industrial-grade epoxy floor coating that is durable and known to last significantly longer than standard floor paint.

Epoxies are also available in a wide variety of highly visible colors to define these paths.

USE COATINGS TO DEFINE HAZARDOUS WORK ZONES

Workplace hazards are everywhere! Heavy pieces of machinery, hazardous chemicals – all pose risks to employees, especially those not trained to work in such areas. Identify any hazardous areas with a colored coating to keep unqualified employees out of these areas.

INCLUDE A NON-SKID ADDITIVE

Non-skid additives can be added to just about any epoxy solution to help prevent slips and falls. Be sure to ask your experienced floor coating professional about non-skid additives and which one is best for your application. 

Slip-resistant, color-coated epoxy flooring can be an important addition to your production facility, and bottom line. Focusing on worker safety will decrease accident rates and reduce worker’s compensation insurance claims and paid time off due to injury. According to the Industrial Safety & Occupational Health Markets, 85% of worker’s compensation claims are attributed to employees slipping on slick floors, and the National Safety Council estimates that compensation and medical costs associated with employee slip and fall accidents is approximately $70 billion annually. These numbers are staggering considering preventive measures can be taken.

What is your company doing to improve worker safety?

When a floor safety concern keeps you up at night, it’s time to evaluate your options. Contact our Corrosion Resistance team to review your options related to epoxy floor coatings and workplace safety.