About William

William Hartley is one of the UK's most authoritative voices on safety flooring and slip prevention. With 22 years of experience spanning his career as a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector and his current role as Safety Flooring Consultant at Rubberco, William brings unmatched regulatory expertise to every flooring specification he advises on.

As a former HSE inspector, William spent over a decade enforcing workplace health and safety legislation across commercial, industrial and public sector environments. During this time, he investigated hundreds of slip, trip and fall incidents — the most common cause of workplace injury in the UK. This frontline experience gave William a deep, practical understanding of what makes flooring truly safe, and what constitutes mere box-ticking compliance.

William joined Rubberco to translate this regulatory knowledge into practical buying guidance for businesses, contractors and facility managers. He is a qualified risk assessor and holds membership of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). His technical specialisms include DIN 51130 R-rating testing, Pendulum Test Value (PTV) assessment and the full spectrum of HSE guidance on workplace flooring under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

William is particularly valued for his ability to cut through the complexity of slip resistance standards and explain them in plain English — helping buyers make informed decisions that protect both people and businesses from the legal and human cost of avoidable accidents.

Areas of Expertise

• Safety flooring specification — selecting compliant, fit-for-purpose non-slip surfaces for commercial and industrial use
• DIN 51130 R-rating testing — R9 through R13 classifications, what they mean and when each is required
• Pendulum Test Values (PTV) — understanding slip resistance measurement under UK HSE guidance
• HSE compliance — Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, HSG264 and associated guidance
• Slip prevention — wet area flooring, drainage matting, anti-slip coatings and surface treatments
• Industrial flooring — chemical-resistant rubber, heavy-duty matting, factory and warehouse applications
• Anti-fatigue matting — ergonomic workplace flooring, standing workstation solutions
• Playground safety surfaces — impact attenuation, critical fall height, rubber chippings

Notable Projects & Achievements

• Former HSE Inspector with 10+ years enforcing health and safety legislation in commercial and industrial settings
• Authored Rubberco's guide to DIN 51130 R-ratings and Pendulum Test Values
• Delivered safety flooring compliance training for facility managers and contractors
• Consulted on flooring specifications for food manufacturing facilities, commercial kitchens and healthcare environments
• Advised local authorities on playground surface compliance with BS EN 1177
• Contributed expert commentary on slip prevention to trade safety publications

Qualifications & Memberships

• Member, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
• Qualified Risk Assessor
• Former Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspector
• Specialist knowledge: DIN 51130, EN 13893, BS 7976 (Pendulum Test)
• 22+ years experience in workplace safety and flooring compliance

William's Latest Articles

William writes authoritative technical guides on safety flooring, HSE compliance and slip prevention for the Rubberco blog. His articles are widely referenced by health and safety managers, contractors and facility operators across the UK.

Articles by William Hartley are published on the Rubberco blog.