In commercial and industrial environments, one of the most important considerations is safety. Between heavy machinery, harmful chemicals, and other hazards, there are plenty of ways workers can get injured on the job. A high-quality concrete floor coating is a crucial step to help safeguard against injuries and maintain compliance. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the specific ways epoxy floor coatings can improve safety compliance in a commercial facility.
OSHA Safety Requirements
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is the main federal agency that enforces workplace safety regulations. Any commercial facility manager will be familiar with the organization, but their code of standards is long and complex. Here’s a brief overview of OSHA’s requirements for walking-working surfaces (i.e. floors and walkways):
- Housekeeping: Employers must keep all walking-working surfaces clean, orderly, and sanitary. Floors must also be clear of hazards like sharp objects, spills, corrosion, and ice.
- Surface conditions: Floors must remain in a dry condition. When a facility uses wet processes, there has to be appropriate drainage as well as dry places to stand.
- Load bearing: Walking-working surfaces have to be able to support the maximum intended load without failure.
- Accessibility and egress: Employers must provide and ensure safe access and egress to and from all walking-working surfaces.
- Inspection and maintenance: OSHA requires regular inspections of walking-working surfaces to identify and correct hazards before employees use the surface.
In the event of a workplace injury or fatality, an inspector will investigate the facility to determine if the company is at fault. Although OSHA requirements don’t list epoxy flooring specifically, an epoxy concrete coating can make it easier to maintain compliance with these regulations.
Slip-Resistance for Accident Prevention
Some of the most common types of workplace injuries are slips, falls, and tripping. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the third most common fatal workplace injuries, behind violence and transportation incidents. Not only do slip and fall hazards create a less safe work environment, but they also decrease productivity and a higher risk of legal consequences for the company.
Epoxy flooring makes commercial buildings safer with its excellent slip resistance. The UV stable surface improves traction underfoot so your staff can navigate your facility without slipping. You can opt for epoxy with aggregates like quartz or silica sand for an even more slip-resistant flooring solution. This creates a texture with extra grit so it’s easier to maintain traction.
Enhanced Visibility
Another key element of workplace safety is visibility, especially in manufacturing and industrial facilities. With epoxy floor coating, the installers can incorporate bright colors to mark specific areas. The epoxy can also include lines marking safe walkways and pathways for heavy machinery.
In addition to custom color options, epoxy flooring has a high-gloss surface that improves lighting and makes the floor easier for employees to navigate. The enhanced visibility that comes with epoxy flooring will help prevent safety hazards and injuries.
Chemical Resistance for Workplace Safety
Certain industries like specialty manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and chemical processing have a higher risk of chemical spills. Without the right protection, a spill can damage your facility and expose employees to harmful substances.
The best concrete coating for chemical resistance is a specialized epoxy called Novolac. Its remarkably dense molecular structure makes it resistant to harsh chemicals and acids. Novolac flooring makes chemical spills easier to clean up and prevents corrosion, a key part of safety compliance for commercial flooring.
Hygienic and Antimicrobial Properties
Epoxy floor coating is also a great choice for facilities that need to maintain a sterile environment, such as labs, hospitals, and clinics. The non-porous surface prevents bacteria and mold growth. Reducing the risk of a costly mold infestation in your facility makes it easier (and cheaper) to stay compliant without shutting down operations for deep cleaning.
Minimize Workplace Hazards
One of the properties managers love most about epoxy floors is how easy they are to clean and maintain. Wet floors are a common cause of slips and falls, and epoxy makes cleaning up spills fast and easy. Epoxy also stands up to the heavy foot traffic of warehouses and manufacturing plants.
Another way epoxy floors reduce trip hazards is their impact resistance. If a heavy object or piece of equipment falls over, it can damage an unprotected floor, creating cracks and chips that create a tripping hazard. A heavy-duty epoxy floor coating can stand up to impacts without cracking, maintaining a safe, smooth surface.
Fire Resistance
A heavy-duty epoxy floor coating like Novolac can also protect floors from burning and fire damage. Heat-resistant flooring is essential for workplace safety compliance in commercial kitchens, metal manufacturing facilities, and food plants.
By preventing fires from spreading, epoxy coated floors give staff more time to clear the building and put out the fire. Fire resistance is especially important in facilities that deal with flammable materials.
Get a Free Quote on Commercial Epoxy Floor Coating
From easy spill cleanup to slip prevention, epoxy floors are an effective way to keep your commercial building compliant with safety regulations. At Concrete Coatings of the Carolinas, we offer a variety of high-quality flooring solutions for every application. In addition to epoxy, we can install polyurethane, Novolac, urethane mortar, concrete stains, and concrete sealants. Contact us today for a free quote on epoxy floor coating services!