How do Slips Happen?

Your restaurant's dining area is spotless and orderly, but behind the doors, the kitchen tells a different story. Staff weave around each other in a rush, and moisture marks the floor in different spots.

It's only a matter of time until somebody slips.

Slips risk employee health and can cause significant legal and financial consequences for facilities. Because commercial kitchens are high-risk environments, slip resistance compliance is essential for the safety of your people and business.

In this guide, we highlight cost-effective solutions that improve safety on commercial kitchen floors without disrupting operations.

Key Takeaways

• Slips occur in commercial kitchens due to moisture, grease, or smooth flooring
  
• Injuries from slips contribute to costly workplace liabilities and downtime
  
• Slip resistance compliance protects both workers and businesses
  
• Floor replacements are expensive and disruptive
  
• Non-slip coatings are a durable, cost-effective solution to slippery floors

Why Slips Happen in Commercial Kitchens

Commercial kitchens are a hot spot for slip hazards, and here's why:

1. Moisture and grease

Every kitchen will see its fair share of oil, water, and food spills. Throw in condensation from steam and refrigeration units, too. For commercial kitchens, these incidents happen on a larger scale.

2. Smooth flooring

Some kitchens use smooth, polished tile or vinyl flooring. These floors have a modern appearance, but offer little slip resistance in greasy or wet conditions.

3. Cleaning solutions

Thorough cleaning should help, but some cleaning agents actually make things worse. When overused, household cleaners (especially alkaline products) can leave a slippery residue that builds up over time.

4. High foot traffic

Even textured flooring and tiles gradually lose traction in areas with constant foot traffic. The pressure and friction from so many staff moving around will wear the floor smooth.

Slip Resistance Compliance for Commercial Kitchens 

Slip ratings are a standard measurement system that classifies floor surfaces by their degree of slip resistance (i.e., friction or traction), thereby reducing the risk of slips and falls.

The national standard AS 4586 categorises the slip resistance of new floors into slip ratings: P1 - P5. Higher ratings indicate better traction, so P5 describes the highest slip resistance. 

Standards Australia's HB 198 also defines industry requirements for slip resistance levels in commercial buildings, citing P5 (or R12) for commercial kitchens. These standards are frequently referenced in legal proceedings, so ensure all surfaces are compliant.

WHS legislation requires persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), such as building owners and facility managers, to identify slip, trip, and fall hazards that could cause injury and implement controls.

Failure to meet slip resistance requirements and any resulting accidents can result in liability risks.

The Hidden Cost of Slip Hazards

If a staff member or visitor slips and is seriously injured in your kitchen, the financial implications in Australia may include:

• Workers' compensation claims
  
• Public liability claims (for visitors)
  
• Medical costs and rehabilitation
  
• Legal fees and potential lawsuits
  
• Insurance premium increases

According to Safe Work Australia, slips, trips and falls account for a significant portion of workplace accidents (21.8% of all serious claims), resulting in costly insurance claims and reputational damage. 

Considering that you also lose labor hours and experience decreased productivity, it is far more cost-effective to invest in preventive measures than to bear liability costs after an incident.

5 Ways to Prevent Slips in Commercial Kitchens

Most accidents in commercial kitchens are preventable. Here are five effective ways to reduce slip risks:

• Identify and report potential hazards
  
• Clean spills immediately
  
• Block access to wet areas
  
• Keep floors free of clutter and install transition ramps
  
• Identify and upgrade worn flooring

If your floors are worn smooth, you need solutions that will increase slip resistance or traction in compliance with requirements for commercial facilities.

Further reading: The Complete Guide to Slip Resistance Compliance for Commercial Facilities

Non-Slip Coatings: Best Solution for Slip Resistance Compliance

Your first instinct may be to replace slippery flooring, but it's costly, disruptive, and often unnecessary.

Non-slip coatings are a more practical and affordable solution. They go directly over your existing floors, improving traction and helping you meet slip resistance standards without major disruption.

Anti-slip coatings are also a practical choice for busy commercial kitchens because they cure rapidly. For instance, Stellmann's coating cures overnight, allowing you to treat the floor without disrupting operations or causing extended downtime.

Stellmann's premium coatings come in clear and colored formulations, making them suited to different flooring aesthetics. Here are the other benefits:

1. Easy application and fast curing times
   
2. CSIRO certified compliance to AS 4586 ratings
   
3. Durable performance against oils, fats, and water
   
4. More affordable than full floor replacement
   
5. Compatible with different commercial kitchen flooring types, including ceramic tile, wood, and vinyl

Stellmann provides free consultations and professional installation. We assess your floors to identify risks and current slip ratings, then install a CSIRO-compliant P5 surface that's audit-ready.

FAQs

Q1: What Type of Flooring is Required for a Commercial Kitchen?

Answer:

Commercial kitchens need floors that can withstand exposure to moisture, frequent cleaning, and harsh cleaning agents. The ideal surface must also provide a high slip resistance, with textured finishes that maintain traction even when the floor is wet. The most common flooring options that meet these needs are ceramic tile and vinyl flooring. 

Q2: How Can I Meet P5 Compliance for Commercial Kitchens?

Answer:

You can meet P5 compliance in commercial kitchens by upgrading your existing floors with a certified anti-slip coating. Look for products tested and approved by the CSIRO to achieve a P5 slip rating, as these provide the highest level of wet-area traction. 

Q3: How to Check Slip Resistance on Commercial Kitchen Floors

Answer:

You can verify your facility's current slip rating through an independent slip-testing provider, but these assessments are costly. A simpler alternative is the Barefoot Friction Test, where you walk barefoot across wet tiles to see if your feet slide easily with no grip.

Q4: What are Key Safety Precautions to Follow in a Commercial Kitchen?

• Clean up water and oil spills immediately 
  
• Ventilate your space properly
  
• Install non-slip flooring and mats
  
• Use adequate lighting throughout the kitchen

Conclusion

In commercial kitchens, slip resistance compliance is critical for safety of both staff and business. If you understand why slips happen, it becomes easy to preempt slip hazards and prioritize effective solutions.

Stellmann's non-slip coatings are a reliable and affordable way to ensure commercial kitchen floor safety with minimal disruption. Visit our website to learn more about how we address floor safety in commercial kitchens.