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Signage To Help Prevent Slips And Falls
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ARE YOUR FACILITIES A DISASTER AREA? - ADVANTAGE CLEANING SERVICES, ALFRED NY, 14803.
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Caution: Wet Floor! In an ideal world, a caution sign warning against a slippery floor would light up like a beacon in the eyes and minds of passersby.听But the reality is, most people ignore such signs.听While that may be counterintuitive, the problem boils down to this simple fact: very often, custodians will leave the signs up long after the area has dried, inadvertently desensitizing the public to the wording on the signs. Not only that, but the sign itself could become a trip hazard if it remains in place longer than it needs to be.听鈥淪igns are the most misused safety product out there,鈥� says Russ Kendzior, founder of the Southlake, Texas-based National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), as well as secretary of the ANSI B101 Committee.听That鈥檚 not to say that 鈥渨et floor鈥� signs should not be utilized. They should, absolutely, unequivocally, be utilized. But, says Steve Spencer, Facility Specialist with State Farm Insurance in Bloomington, Illinois, there are ground rules that should be followed:听鈥� The sign should be right on top of the wet area.鈥� The sign should be stable so it doesn鈥檛 fall over.鈥� The sign should be at least 28 to 39 inches tall.鈥� The sign should be visible from 360-degrees.鈥� The sign should be yellow, with black letters.鈥� The sign should clearly say Caution: Wet Floor.鈥� The sign should be immediately removed after the area is dried.听It is also a good idea to put signs around a wet area in advance of the hazard when at all possible. And, ideally the sign should be illuminated or otherwise clearly visible.听At times, barricades are appropriate to use rather than signs, or in addition to signs. For example, if the custodial staff happens to be applying finish to a floor during building hours, putting up a temporary barricade is a good idea.听A barricade is a better option than a sign anytime that an area is going to be wet for a long time or for a larger area.听Nonetheless, like signs, people will sometimes violate barricades, says John Poole Jr., consultant with American Institute for Cleaning Sciences in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. That鈥檚 why, if at all possible, close down an area, such as a restroom, and direct the public to another area.听Hilary Daninhirsch is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh.
