According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, poorly maintained floors are responsible for more than two million fall injuries each year, resulting in billions of dollars in medical, insurance and litigation costs. But, many of these injuries can be prevented. Choosing maintenance products that meet ANSI B101 floor safety standards ensure floors not only look great, but are safer as well.

The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) provides third party certified testing and classification to evaluate products for wet slip resistance. According to NFSI research, walkways with a wet SCOF of 0.60 or greater (defined by the B101.1 standard as “high traction”) are shown to reduce slip-and-fall claims by as much as 90 percent, while walkways with a SCOF value below 0.40 continually contribute to the largest number of claims.

3M leads the industry in the development of cutting-edge floor care products. The Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protector, a unique component of the 3M Resilient Floor Protection System, was recently certified by the NFSI as “high traction.” The Resilient Floor Protector joins the list of 3M’s other NFSI-certified products, including the Scotchgard Stone Floor Protector.

“Numerous floor products exist in the marketplace, but not all are created equal,” said Greg Brown, cleaning portfolio business director of 3M’s Building and Commercial Services Division. “Our talented team works tirelessly to develop innovative new product options for the marketplace. Making sure our products meet the strict NFSI certification requirements provides value to our customers and helps provide a higher level of safety for their employees and guests.”

For more information about 3M’s ScotchgardResilient Floor Protector, visit www.3Mfloorprotection.com. To learn more about NFSI’s floor safety certification, visit www.NFSI.org.