Measurement is the foundation of all effective slip and fall prevention programs. It entails collecting data, laying the basis for appropriate action. There are three steps to slip/fall prevention involving data collection:
1) measuring and recording the condition of floors*,
2) improving then maintaining that condition to a desired benchmark level through effective treatments and routine care, and
3) regularly evaluating / documenting the state of floors to help ensure (and demonstrate) the proper degree of due diligence and care (the opposite of negligence) and compliance with safety norms. *It is important to first benchmark the wet Coefficient of Friction (COF) of the floor surface. The wet COF is basically a measurement that records how slip-resistant the floor surface is when it is wet or contaminated. The rationale is that if a floor is slip-resistant when wet, it will be slip resistant when dry.