Consumer Groups Support Request for Rulemaking on Floor Coverings and Coatings Slip Resistance

CFA and Consumer Reports commented on a petition requesting rulemaking to mandate testing and labeling regarding flooring slip resistance. The Consumer Product Safety Commission staff found in during 2018-2020 injuries related to stairs, ramps, landings, and floors, resulting largely from slips and falls, accounted for an average of more than 2.6 million emergency department-treated injuries per year. In 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 44,686 deaths from unintentional falls both in and out of the home. Additionally, according to research cited by the CDC, more than one out of four people aged 65 and older falls each year, and in 2015, the total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 billion.

CFA and CR support the petition's requests for rulemaking regarding floor coverings and coatings, while recognizing that the toll of slip-and-fall injuries on consumers and the country may warrant additional measures to ensure that consumers-including those who do not directly purchase flooring from a retailer-are better protected from injury and have greater awareness of slip resistance as a key safety-related attribute of flooring.