Frequently Asked Questions
If we test, and the floors are found to have a high risk of slip, surely we are shooting ourselves in the foot if a claim is made?
Ignorance is not a defense. If the floors are found to have a high risk of slip, we will work with you until a solution has been found on how to reduce this to an acceptable level.
A proactive approach rather than a reactive approach is the expectation of the HSE and any Health and Safety auditors.
My floors haven't changed since the last test, why would I need to test again?
The main aspects that influence a floor's performance are external contaminants and environmental factors - these are always changing and have a huge impact on how a floor performs. Therefore, it is recommended testing is carried out regularly, we suggest every 6 months to identify any potential problems early. This can also help detect early degradation of the floors.
The floor was tested when it was laid and was fine, why should I test again?
There is an expectation from Health and Safety auditors that you understand how your floor should perform (when first laid) and how it does perform once in use. Over time various factors influence the performance of a floor, such as a cleaning regime, food, grit and dirt brought inside over time and the build-up of these types of contaminants can drastically impact the floors performance and slip resistance.
Why do you bother to carry out the wet test when the requirement is dry?
Although the requirement is dry, it is important to have an understanding of how your floor performs in all conditions. If the risk of slip rises dramatically when wet then a solution needs to be found to rectify this and we will work with you to achieve an acceptable result.
Ignoring the wet results or not testing the floors in the wet could mean anyone walking on your floors is at a high risk of slip and you are choosing to ignore this, thus not fulfilling your duty of care. It is better to take a proactive approach, be aware and fix the problem instead of waiting until someone has a potentially serious and costly fall.
Would a wet test make our results look worse?
The wet and dry results are reported separately and the dry results are the requirement. However we do not expect to see huge differences between wet and dry results and if we do we will work with you to rectify the problem.
Why should I test every 6 months?
This is good practice as it will identify any potential problems and detect early degradation of the floors. On some premises and in some environments testing more regularly may be advisable, but we will discuss this with you as part of the audit and risk assessment if required.
Pendulum V SlipAlert - what are the benefits?
Both pieces of equipment are recognised by the HSE/HSL, with the Pendulum being the 'Preferred' measure and SlipAlert being seen as giving a 'good indication of available friction'.
Based on our 20 years of experience we are able to recommend the piece of equipment best suited to your premises and we do this on a case by case basis and discuss with you the reason why.
What Can I Do Next…
- Call our friendly Sales Team with any queries or feedback on + 44 (0) 1234 712160
- Drop us an email anytime at enquiries@sliptest.info