This book is intended to be a practical safety engineering guide for use by those who design, construct, operate and maintain buildings and walking surfaces in the course of their work of making facilities they are responsible for safer for their intended uses. And in cases where these professionals fail to accept their ethical responsibility, trial lawyers will find the contents helpful in evaluating cases and bringing legal action that will obtain justice for the injured and injurer alike.

Chapter 1. How Slips Occur
Investigative history. Coefficient of friction terminology. Static friction. Dynamic friction. Hazardous walking surfaces and finishes. Remedial steps for slippery surfaces.

Chapter 2. Slipmeters
On the uses and abuses of slipmeters, types of meters

Chapter 3. Making the Best of Existing Floors
Floor maintenance, sweep logs, remedial floor treatments, mats and runners.

Chapter 4. Trips and Falls
The mechanism of a trip, single step accidents

Chapter 5. Slips and Falls in Restaurants
Factors affecting slip resistance of walking surfaces, selection of walking surfaces, grease load, cleaning procedures, cleaning chemistry, grease polymerization. Gimmicks that don’t work. Effectiveness of detergents

Chapter 6. Stairs
How people walk on stairs. Handrails, guards, landings, carpeted treads, headroom, visual factors, unexpected step-downs, slip-resistant nosings

Chapter 7. Ramps
Was a ramp really necessary? Curb cuts, hazardous ramp design, asphalt ramps, painted ramps, confusing the pedestrian, use of building codes as guidelines

Chapter 8. Miscellaneous Fall Hazards Outdoors
Wheelstops and other barriers, posts, speed bumps, door stops. Adequate drainage, roof leaders running onto sidewalks, gratings, junction boxes, dangerous landscaping features, pavement cracks and heaves, asphalt curbs, bicycle racks, maintenance

Chapter 9. Signs and Warnings
Using standard graphics conventions, selection and placement, positioning, improper placement of signs.

Chapter 10. Sidewalks and Curbs
Extruded curbing versus monolithic, freeze/thaw heaves and settlement, considering the behavior of people in design stages, curb heights, obstacles built into sidewalks, supervision during construction, maintenance

Chapter 11. Retail Hazards
Merchandise displays, lighting and contrast, protecting against construction and maintenance hazards, warnings, slippery floor remedies, tripping hazards

Chapter 12. Ice and Snow Control
Planning for inclement weather, snow removal contracting, providing adequate equipment and materials, ice-melting chemicals

Bibliography
Extensive bibliography of safety engineering literature concerning falls and their prevention

Appendix
Inclusion of NBS Tech Note 953 on slipmeters in its entirety.