Facility managers and safety professionals now have a way to measure the risk of a slip and fall on hard surface flooring, thanks to a new national safety standard set by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI).

The ANSI/NFSI standard, B101.1 will be especially useful to those in safety, legal and risk management, according to NFSI President Russ Kendzior, who notes that, "For the first time in American history, property owners can now be held accountable for the slip resistance of their floors."

The risk is considerable – and costly, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), whose figures show that in 2007, injuries from falls were the leading cause of emergency room visits in America, with an annual cost to the nation’s economy estimated at more than $40 billion per year.

“We have been anticipating the publication of this standard for some time now.” said Dr. Howard Harris, President of Traction Auditing, LLC, an independent, third party walkway testing company. “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.”

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.

“Business owners are encouraged to have their floors tested to determine into which Traction range their floors fall,” said Kendzior.”

To download ANSI/NFSI standard B101.1, go to: www.nfsi.org.