Abstract

Falls and slips are one of the primary causes of occupational injury suffered by workers in industrial and institutional kitchens. Previous research has demonstrated that adequate floor maintenance can reduce the risk of injurious slips. This project focuses on the soiling of concrete floors by motor oil and hydraulic fluids, a situation commonly encountered in garages, warehouses, indoor parking lots, and some manufacturing companies. Analysis of the influence of differences in concretes, oils, fluids, floor cleaners, and cleaning techniques revealed that the cleaning of concrete floors is a complex operation. It was however possible to formulate a number of recommendations that workers and employers in the target sectors will find useful.