The Tortus Tortus3 slip test device

The Tortus has been evaluated by the English UK HSE who have also tested SlipAlert. The HSE think that theTortus fails to measure wet slip risk.

Testing wet slip risk matters

Most slip accidents occur on wet floors. The Tortus trundles acrosss the floor meauring the resistance between the floor and a small rubber pad. The science of wet slip resistance is complex but the key features relate to weight and speed. When your heel slips on a wet floor it is being lifted off the floor surface by a aqueeze film of water between the shoe heel and the floor surface. The Tortus moves too slowly to simulate that aqua-planing effect.

What the HSE say about the Tortus

The UK HSE tests of the Tortus reveal it to be a reasonable measure of dry slip risk. It measures the coefficient of friction on dry floors reasonably well. However, according to the HSE,

"You need to be aware that it is an invalid test for pedestrian slipping as it gives incorrect results in contaminated conditions."

TORTUS and legal slip cases in court

Some will argue that slip test measures like the BOT-3000 are useful in court cases because they provide a credible measure of slip resistance and a printout of coefficient of friction of the floor. If you wish to contest evidence from the BOT-3000 or other slip testers such as the TORTUS, GMG, GSC200 then you should conduct a simple slip test on smooth tiled floors. Measure the slip risk of the dry floor, the wet floor, and the floor with a coating of grease or oil plus water. Many slip testers like the BOT-3000 will show the floor to be safer when wet than it is when dry. This is clearly counter to actual slip experience where most slip accidents occur on wet or contaminated floors.

Tortus comparison of slip test

We will be happy to compare Tortus test results with SLipAlert test results. SlipAlert test results convert to PTV and coefficient of friction.

We understand that the Tortus is a good slip test machine but we accept the HSE view that it fails to measure wet slip risk and is not as easy to use or as reliable as SlipAlert

Contact SlipAlert for more information.