You may think of absorbents only in terms of pollution prevention, but more often, they are used within a facility to clean up potential slip and fall hazards. Most chemicals, cleaners, fuels, oils and other common industrial liquids are highly slippery when spilled on a smooth surface.
Absorbents Can Help Prevent the High Cost of Slips and Falls
Slips, trips and falls are the most common type of industrial acident. Falls on the same level (rather than from a height) account for billions of dollars in workman’s compensations and medical expenses each year. This does not include the cost associated with lost productivity, nor the agony experienced by those who become disabled. The causes of these falls are due to a variety of reasons:
- Wet, oily or otherwise slippery surfaces
- Rough floor surfaces in disrepair
- Loose or unanchored rugs and mats,
- Spills
- Ice, rain or snow
- Obstacles in walkway
- Inappropriate footware
Walking and working surfaces should always be kept clean and dry. In fact, OSHA standards require that, “All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.” And, “The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition.” The following are good items to have on hand to protect your staff and maintain a clean, non-slip workplace:
- Absorbent rolls
- Absorbent pads or mats
- Industrial rugs
- Absorbent Socks
- Granular Absorbents (great for ice and rain slick surfaces)
- Spill kits
The faster you can respond to any size of spill with liquid and oil absorbents, the lower the chance some unaware person will become a statistic.