Copyright 2012 National Floor Safety Institute
Causes of Slips, Trips and Falls
Cost to The Education Industry The average slip-and-fall claim cost - $3,600 - $5,200 Estimated annual cost to the education industry - $5 Billion Same level slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of W.C. injury and second leading cause of G.L. injury
Public School Work W.C. 2010-2011 Accident Type Tot Inc. SLIP-FALL $19,056,536 3607 $5,283 OVEREXERT. $12,286,609 1642 $7,483 BODILY MOT. $6,280,533 1025 $6,127 FALL-ELEVATED $6,116,092 799 $7,655 STRUCK BY $4,816,250 2023 $2,381 EMC Insurance # Claims Avg. Cost / Claim
Legal Costs Average cost of litigation now exceeds $61,000 Average slip and fall settlement is $24,000 Average jury award tops $100,000 Since 1980, personal injury lawsuits have risen by more than 300%
Public School Lawsuits 2010-2011 Accident Type Tot. Inc. # Claims Avg. Cost/ Claim LAWSUITS GEN. $5,618,646 414 $13,572 SCHOOLS GEN. $2,557,205 1072 $2,385 SLIP/FALL $1,964,383 542 $3,624 GL MISC $379,901 106 $3,584 STRUCK BY $145,944 EMC Insurance 142 $1,028
Most Common Locations Building Entrances Exterior Walkways Bleachers Teachers Break Room Parking Lot
The Problem is Escalating The average victim of of a slip-and-fall is a women age 60 or older By the year 2030, nearly 1 out of every 5 workers will be over the age of 60 The total estimated annual cost for slips, trips and falls tops $80 billion Source: Perot Charts (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008)
For every slip-and-fall fatality 23 people will fall and report a minor injury and 70 people will fall and go un-reported Slip-and-Fall Safety Pyramid
Contributing Factors Physiological Social Balance Hearing Vision Age Health/Medication Preoccupation Environmental Flooring Lighting Hazards
Social Causation Physiological Environmental
Things a Floor Mat Should Not Do But often does Buckle Crack Flip over Migrate Fail to contain water
Mat Soil and Moisture Removal Requirements Windsor Corp
How Household Floor Cleaners Stack Up
Multi Industry Problem School District Janitorial Ind. Insurance Ind. A.K.A The Blame Game Legal Ind. Medical Ind.
The ANSI B101 Committee on Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention ANSI B101.0 ANSI B101.8 Standards
ANSI/NFSI B101.0-2012 Scope: Scope: This standard provides the technical procedures for walkway auditing and measuring the coefficient of friction (tribometry) of walkway surfaces in both public and private facilities. Purpose: The purpose of this standard is to provide specific methods and procedures for the performance of a walkway audit, which may, by its performance, reduce or prevent injuries and fatalities from slips and falls.
ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 Scope: This test method specifies the procedures and devices used for both laboratory and field testing to measure the wet Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF) of common hard- surface floor materials. Purpose: This test method provides a measurement procedure setting forth traction ranges that facilitate remediation of walkway surfaces when warranted.
ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 Table 1. Defines three Traction Levels or wet SCOF ranges High-Traction (SCOF of 0.6+) Moderate Traction (SCOF of 0.4-0.6) Low Traction (SCOF of <0.4)
ANSI/NFSI B101.3-2012 Scope: This test method specifies the procedures and devices used for both laboratory and field testing to measure the wet dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) of common hard-surface floor materials. Table 1. Defines three Traction Levels or wet DCOF ranges High-Traction (DCOF of 0.42+) Moderate Traction (DCOF of 0.30 0.42) Low Traction (DCOF of <0.30)
ANSI/NFSI B101.5-2012
Tribometers
ANSI B101.0 - B101.8 Standards B101.0-2012: Walkway Auditing Guideline (WAG) B101.1-2009: Wet Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF) method B101.2: Floor cleaners and treatments (NFSI 101-B) B101.3-2012: Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) method B101.4: Wet barefoot standard (ie: bathtubs, pool decks, etc.) B101.5-2012: Product labeling (flooring materials) B101.6-2012: Entrance floor matting B101.7: Wet or wet/oily test method for footwear outsoles B101.8: Floor safety management program
Look for the NFSI Label Your guarantee that this product has been independently tested to the industries highest standard and is certified by the NFSI as HighTraction
What Should You Do Audit your floors per the ANSI/NFSI B101.0 Standard Use only NFSI Certified floor care products, mats and equipment Engineer out problem areas Establish a employee footwear policy
So How Will This Affect You? Reduced Injury Claims: Litigation Defense: Voluntary compliance will reduce claims of negligence and will serve in building an evidentiary trail of due diligence Insurance: Underwriters may soon require walkway audits and use the data as a basis for basing future premiums
How to Participate NFSI P.O. Box 92628 Southlake, TX 76092 (817)749-1705 www.nfsi.org russk@nfsi.org