The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) announced the publication of the new national safety standard for testing hard surface flooring, the ANSI/NFSI B101.1. This advancement in floor safety has been highly anticipated by the risk management and loss prevention industries.
“We have been anticipating the publication of this standard for some time now.” said Dr. Howard Harris, president of Traction Auditing LLC. “Traction Auditing has fully incorporated the ANSI/NFSI B101.1 Test Method for Measuring Wet SCOF of Common Hard-Surface Floor Materials standard throughout its Safe Surface System floor testing protocols.”
In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 2.2 million Americans sought emergency room treatment for an accidental fall, making falls the leading cause of emergency room visits in America. This national testing standard provides property owners, facility managers and risk professionals with an important tool by which they can measure the risk of a slip and fall and, in-turn, prevent such accidents from occurring. Demonstrating compliance with this new national floor safety standard will be critical for companies looking to reduce the risks and costs associated with slip and fall claims. Slip and fall accidents are so prevalent, the CDC has declared elderly falls a national epidemic and estimates the annual cost to the nation’s economy to be over $40 billion per year.
Under the new ANSI B101.1 standard, walkway slip resistance can be measured and categorized into one of three "Traction" ranges: High, Moderate, or Low Traction. Floors categorized as High Traction present a low risk of a slip and fall while Moderate Traction and Low Traction floors present an elevated risk. By using the Traction Auditing Safe Surface System, companies can reduce the risk of slip and fall claims and litigation while demonstrating compliance with this new industry standard. Russ Kendzior, founder of the NFSI states, “Business owners are encouraged to have their floors tested to determine into which Traction range their floors fall. The NFSI recommends that ANSI B101.1 compliance testing be performed by an NFSI Certified Walkway Auditor”. The Safe Surface System is a simple, yet comprehensive approach to slip and fall prevention that combines NFSI certified walkway auditors with the most advanced walkway auditing protocols available and NFSI Certified High Traction floor cleaning products. By using an independent walkway auditing company like Traction Auditing, companies can ensure maximum safety for its employees and customers. Traction Auditing’s Safe Surface System, based around the ANSI B101.1 standard, helps companies large and small protect themselves from unwarranted litigation and claims from slips and falls.
