News Archives

Jessup Non-Slip Tapes Certified by NFSI
(Print this Article - Adobe PDF)

McHenry, IL, March 22, 2007 – The complete line of Jessup Manufacturing Company’s non-slip tapes have been certified as “High Traction” by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) after passing a rigorous two-phase testing process.

The non-slip tapes produced by Jessup, North America’s leading manufacturer of non-slip and photoluminescent technology, can be used in hundreds of applications ranging from stairways, walkways and ramps to surfaces on exercise equipment and boats.

“According to the National Safety Council, slips and falls are the second leading cause of accidents, next to vehicular accidents, and annually result in more than $70 billion in medical costs, lost work time, litigation and related costs,” said Alan M. Carlson, vice president marketing support/business development. “There is no other manufacturer that has a complete line of non-slip tapes certified by NFSI, giving customers a complete solution of materials to reduce falls and improve safety.”

According to NFSI research, 50 percent of workplace slips and falls are caused by lack of traction on floors and other walking surfaces. Occupational Hazards reported that there are 329,100 lost work days from slips and trips, and that the average cost per incident is $13,000. Industry experts estimate that 85% of worker’s compensation claims are attributed to slips.

The Jessup products tested and certified by NFSI are 3100 Safety Track®, 3200 Safety Track®, 3300 Safety Track®, 3500 Safety Track® and 3400 Glo Brite® Safety Track®. NFSI uses a two-phase testing process incorporating laboratory and field testing before certifying products.

Phase 1 testing uses a Universal Walkway Tester that wet tests non-slip tapes to determine if they meet NFSI guidelines for static coefficient of friction (SCOF). Once the materials pass this phase, the non-slip tapes are installed in a real world application for 30 days. They are exposed to commercial traffic loads, exposure to cleaning agents, spills and similar conditions. After the test period expires, the non-slip tapes are cleaned and again wet tested for SCOF before being NFSI certified as “High Traction.”

The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) was founded in 1997 as a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to aid in the prevention of slip-and-fall accidents through education, training and research. The NFSI is led by a fifteen-member Board of Directors representing product manufacturers, insurance underwriters, trade associations, and independent consultants. The National Safety Council and the NFSI have partnered to offer a comprehensive slip-and-fall prevention training program. In addition, the NFSI publishes Standards and serves the public as a member of the National Safety Council.