General

Please select the from the following questions:

• How does the SAT calculate slip risk?
• Why should the SAT only be used as an indicator tool?
• Can the SAT be used to assess the slip risk of profiled floorings or stairs?
• What should I do if I don't have access to a laptop on site?
• Will the SAT be updated?
• Why can't I save my site assessment data?
• How do I back up my site assessment data?
• How do I create a custom RTF report?

How does the SAT calculate slip risk?

The slip risk presented by the SAT is calculated using information supplied by the user during an assessment. Numerous factors that affect the likelihood of a pedestrian slip are considered by the system, such as the roughness of the flooring test area, the presence of contamination on the floor surface and the pedestrian use of the area. This information is weighted, simply processed in accordance with HSE guidelines, and presented as a single figure. The scale used is arbitrary, and does not directly represent the frictional properties of the flooring. As a guide, a value of zero represents a low slip risk; those over 40 represent a high slip risk.

Why should the SAT only be used as an indicator tool?

Specialist test methods currently exist which are capable of the very accurate assessment of floor surface slipperiness. Tests such as the 'Pendulum' coefficient of friction test are outlined in relevant British Standards (such as BS 7976) and are currently used by HSL / HSE specialists for formal slipperiness assessments (including during HSE enforcement action). Unfortunately, test methods such as the pendulum are often difficult to use accurately, and require an understanding of the theory of pedestrian slips. As a result, their use tends to be limited to experienced specialists. The SAT was designed to allow non-specialists to undertake informal slipperiness assessments without the need for formal assessment using complex or expensive test methods. The operation of the tool has been designed to allow the user to supply simple, largely subjective information. As the slip risk produced by the tool may be strongly influenced by the information provided by the user, it follows that the slip risk generated by the tool is also a subjective figure. Results from the SAT should therefore not be used as evidence in legal proceedings.

Can the SAT be used to assess the slip risk of profiled floorings or stairs?

If readings are required to be taken from profiled flooring (such as contoured ceramic tiles or profiled metal plate), then roughness measurements should be taken from profile crests where possible. These areas represent the area of contact between the foot and the floor. The use of roughness meters in profile valleys may either lead to the production of inaccurate data, or lead to permanent damage to the meter. Although the SAT may provide useful information regarding the slipperiness of stair tread materials, it should NOT be used to determine the risks associated with stair use.

What should I do if I don't have access to a laptop on site?

If a laptop is not available on site, then information can be recorded on an 'on-site assessment proforma' (an electronic version is supplied with the SAT) and fed into the program at a later date. The proforma is simply laid out and has been constructed to allow the reliable collection of all of the information required.

Will the SAT be updated?

The SAT will be modified as knowledge and understanding of the problem of pedestrian slipping increases. Once you have downloaded the SAT and registered (free of charge), you will be automatically informed of updates.

Why can't I save my site assessment data?

You may not have permission to write to the area of your hard drive where the SAT has been installed. This may be because your system administrator has secured your PC so that you are only allowed to write to certain folders. If this is the case, you will need to contact your system administrator to arrange for this to be rectified.

How do I back up my site assessment data?

It is essential that you regularly back up your site assessment data. All your site assessments are stored in a single file called 'satdata.xml'. This can be found in a folder named 'data' located in the folder that the SAT is installed in. To back up the data, simply copy the file to a secure location using your preferred method. Old back-up files should be renamed to prevent them being overwritten by the current file.

How do I create a custom RTF report?

A custom RTF template file (custom.rtf) is supplied with the SAT. Initially, this is a copy of the default RTF file but it can be edited as required using a RTF compatible word processor (including WordPad that comes as standard on many Windows platforms). You can change the font size and style and include images. This file can be found in a folder named 'RTF' located in the folder that the SAT is installed in. When this file is opened, it may look a strange as many words are enclosed in curly brackets. These are the parameters that are assigned values when an assessment is completed. For instance, the text {rptDate} will be replaced by the date that the assessment was conducted. A list of these parameters is contained at the end of this FAQ Parameters that are not required in a report can be removed, for instance you may only wish to include the average surface roughness value so the individual readings contained in the template ({rptRoughnessReadings}) can be deleted. Note that you must not change the name of this template file. If for any reason the file becomes corrupted, simply delete it and a new template file using default settings will be created the next time you run the SAT. As with all important data files, please ensure that you back up this template. The following is a list of assessment parameters with the corresponding values:

• Site - {rptSite}
• Date - {rptDate} Operator - {rptOperator}
• Slip Risk - {rptSlipRisk}
• Slip Risk Band - {rptSlipRiskBand}
• Assessment Type - {rptAssessmentType}
• Floor Type - {rptFloorType Acid Etching - {rptAcidEtching}
• Roughness Meter Calibrated - {rptMeterCalibrated}
• Contamination - {rptContamination}
• Potential Contamination Sources - {rptPotentialContaminationSources}
• Footwear - {rptFootwear}
• Floor Cleaning Types - {rptFloorCleaningType}
• Floor Cleaning Frequency - {rptFloorCleaningFreq}
• Contamination Reoccurrence - {rptContamReoccurence}
• Surface Usage - {rptSurfaceUseage}
• Environmental Factors - {rptEnvironmentalFactors}
• Average Roughness Reading - {rptAverageRoughness}
• Roughness Readings - {rptRoughnessReadings}
• Notes - {rptNotepadText}