A plant’s workforce, equipment, production machinery, and schedules are nearly always in motion. But facility managers often see what’s under their workers’ feet (e.g., flooring) as static, unchanging. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations section 1910.22, which cover “Walking-Working Surfaces,” direct facility owners to, among other things, keep surfaces under foot clean and orderly or risk fines up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Temperature, humidity, thermal shock, equipment vibration, foot and vehicular traffic, spills, cleaning agents, and more make a plant’s floor a dynamic landscape. Some facility owners take a check-the-box approach to flooring; they simply want to pass the next inspection or fix an immediate problem. Patching problems can save money up front. But a short-term approach to industrial painting, coating, and flooring eventually spells injuries, work stoppages, or even cancelled contracts due to product contamination.
Savvy facility managers analyze situations, plan for improved outcomes, and spend money wisely. Flooring projects done well are no different. Below are some best practices by facility and maintenance managers who have strategically tackled flooring projects.
Find an impartial observer with expertise
Independent consultants and association can help select a flooring specification. The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) can recommend an NFSI WACH graduate who will assess the state of your facility’s floor, identify problems, and make recommendations. The National Safety Council offers assessments and consulting services that employers can tap into. And the International Concrete Repair Institute certifies people as concrete slab moisture testing technicians. Plant maintenance managers generally don’t know flooring specifications; and many vendors suggest the one they know best or are certified to use.