Kathy,
 We have dealt with this same problem a million times over....we are currently using Tacky Mats at each cutting and embedding station as well as the exits to the cutting room and outside the lab door in the corridor.  This has actually improved the situation dramatically...those darn tacky mats will take the shoe off your foot !!!!!!  They do collect a LOT of paraffin and you just rip off the top sheet as it gets full and another sheet is right underneath it.  We have tried the waffle type mats (talk about injuries that sting !!!), etc...nothing worked until we used the tacky mats.  We also have housekeeping de-wax our floors periodically which has also helped.  We no longer get complaints from other departments about slippery hallways and have reduced the number of falls in the lab significantly.  Hope this helps...if you need info on ordering Tacky Mats, let me know....

Vicki
Albany Medical Center

>>> Kathy Paton <Patonk@WHL.co.nz> 10/09/00 11:26PM >>>
Dear All

Sorry to raise a well worn issue.    Wax on the floors in the microtomy
area.
We have moved into a new laboratory with heavy duty lino with no special
abrasive surface.
Within three months we had a few very nasty stingey hurtee type falls.
With Health and Safety foremost in my 
Mind I contacted a company that supplies a special type of lino with a
metallic inset.
We have also established a more intensive cleaning up process.
However the architects who are designing the remainder of the laboratory
have assured us that this is a "process problem". And that no special
surface should be necessary.   The genius even suggested putting the
microtomists into "little rooms" with vacuums surrounding them!!!!!!
Has anybody some enlightening suggestions for this old problem or any
similar experiences.
Frank Lloyd Wright...........come in please.
Regards
Kathy Paton
Team Leader
Surgical Pathology Unit
North Shore Hospital
Auckland
New Zealand