A company boss is calling for wider public awareness of a safety standard for bath and shower mats after highlighting the fact that there are no official statistics kept for slips and falls in the bathroom.
Isagi managing director Andrew Guilbert says he was stunned to discover that national figures are no longer kept for this type of accident - even though hundreds of people are believed to be injured every year after slipping in the bath or shower.

The falls are of such concern that a British Standard for bath and shower mat slip resistance was introduced about two years ago with the aim of cutting down on the injuries. However, the standard is voluntary and not enforced.

Mr Guilbert, whose company specialises in the supply of non-slip matting and fabrics, said: "Shops selling these mats should have to publicise whether or not they adhere to the safety standard. Some people will say this is unnecessary because there is no legal requirement for the mats to conform to the standard.

"However, if you don't have the correct mat, and use it on the correct surface, following the manufacturer's instructions, there is a potential accident in the bathroom waiting for you and your family. So many unnecessary accidents that could be avoided are happening all over the country due to this. It's especially dangerous for elderly people who often cannot recover from a fall."

He went on: "Far greater action needs to be taken in general to make people aware of the problem and of the fact this safety standard actually exists to tackle it. Making people aware gives them the choice to buy an ordinary mat or one that is independently tested to ensure conformity with the British Standard for Slip Resistance Level 1 anti-slip mat or Level 2 comfort mat."

Mr Guilbert has brought the matter to the attention of his MP, Cheryl Gillan. She put down a question on the subject last autumn in the House of Commons, where it was confirmed in a written answer to her that data has not been kept for more than a decade.

Mrs Gillan, who expressed her surprise that these statistics were not kept, told Isagi: "I am very concerned there are standards for bath mats slip resistance that have been developed but don't seem to have been spun out across the health services and to people who are looking after the elderly."

Mr Guilbert, whose company is exhibiting at Totally Tools later this month, added: "It's too dangerous to ignore this. We have spent a lot of time and money on ensuring we meet the standard, and yet when I speak to people at events and trade fairs there really doesn't seem to be much awareness that the standard exists."