Did you know that you can purchase health and safety mats for the workplace that will help to prevent accidents and fatigue? It’s a small price to pay, to invest in the safety, comfort and happiness of your employees!
A study by the Health and Safety Executive shows that between 2019 and 2020, 693,000 employees self-reported that they had sustained non-fatal injuries at work, and a further 65,427 employees were reported by their employer. Of these figures, a staggering 29% were caused by slips, trips or falls on a flat surface.
This means that approximately 219,943 individuals were injured in the workplace in a single year, solely because of slips, trips and falls.
At Mats4U, we have been supplying anti-slip mats, anti-fatigue mats and entrance mats to workplaces for over 25 years, to prevent these kinds of injuries. And so we have to wonder, how many slips, trips and falls, and other workplace accidents, could be prevented if the proper matting was in place? That’s why we’ve dedicated this blog post to everything you need to know about health and safety mats, so that you can make an informed purchase that will vastly improve the quality of your employees working day.
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Health And Safety Mats
What Is A Health And Safety Mat?
A health and safety mat is any kind of matting, typically made from rubber, that is designed to improve the safety of a room, building or business. Different types of mat do this in different ways, because they have different qualities and features - which we’ll get to momentarily.
Will A Health And Safety Mat Make My Workplace Safer?
While there is no legal requirement to have health and safety mats in place, they are proven to create a safe working environment. The Workplace (Health Safety And Welfare) Regulations 1992 outlines that workplace flooring should be accessible, fit for purpose and without any risks. Health and safety mats guarantee compliance with the law, because they do all of these things.
What Are The Different Kinds Of Health And Safety Mat?
There are three main kinds of health and safety mat, specifically designed to make your workplace safer. Each plays a slightly different role within the workplace because it has different functionalities and features.
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Anti-Slip Mats
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Anti-Fatigue Mats
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Entrance Mats
There is no single best health and safety mat. However, there are mats within each sub-category that are the preferred choice of our customers, because each customer has a unique set of problems that need solving. A member of our friendly team would be more than happy to talk you through your options and find the health and safety mat that is best for you - after all, that’s why we’re here.
Anti-Slip Mats
In this section we’re going to unpack everything there is to know about anti-slip mats, to help you avoid an accident in the workplace that could have been mitigated, or even prevented!
What Is An Anti-Slip Mat?
An anti-slip mat is exactly what the name suggests: a mat designed to prevent people from slipping! They work in both wet and dry environments, when people are standing or walking.
Where Can I Use An Anti-Slip Mat?
We often get asked this question, along with, “who needs an anti-slip mat?”. And the simple answer is, pretty much everyone can use one of these mats, pretty much anywhere they deem to be a slip risk.
In a manufacturing environment, they can prevent slips in oil. In a kitchen, they can prevent individuals from slipping on chemical grease. In a restaurant, wash room, leisure centre or gym, they can ensure that wet floors don’t pose an unnecessary danger. Whether you have an enthusiastic dishwasher or a leaky water bottle, these mats will help to prevent so many accidents!
Will An Anti-Slip Mat Make My Workplace Safer?
We certainly think so! An anti-slip mat is designed to mitigate the risk of slipping - and a reduced risk of slipping definitely makes your workplace safer! There are still further safety precautions that you can take, and other mats that you can invest in, but this is a good place to start.
Best Anti-Slip Mat
Our favourite non-slip mat is the Superscrape Non Slip Rubber Mat. It is bi-level, which means that it collects and stores dirt, water, oil and grease on a lower level, away from the walking surface, preventing it from being tracked throughout the building or from posing a possible risk to people walking through. The mat comes in fixed sizes, for use at individual workstations, vending and entrance-ways.
Another firm favourite is the slightly more specialist Vynagrip Non Slip Roll Mat. It’s aggressive tread offers superior slip resistance and the flow-through design allows liquids and debris to fall through the mat, away from the standing surface, and onto the floor beneath. Available in rolls and custom size cuts, this is the perfect matting for production lines and large workstations, because it’s versatile, heavy duty and incredibly durable.
Anti-Fatigue Mats
Onto the next! We’re going to answer any questions that you may have on anti-fatigue mats, from “what is an anti-fatigue mat?” to “what is the best kind of anti-fatigue mat?”. At Mats4U, we strive to provide accurate and reliable information so that our customers are able to make an informed purchase that best fits their needs.
What Is An Anti-Fatigue Mat?
An anti-fatigue mat is specially designed to reduce muscle aches and strain, and tiredness, for individuals that need to stand on hard surfaces for long periods of time. They can be made from a variety of materials, including rubber and vinyl. The cushioned surface encourages regular movement of the muscles in your legs and feet, that is almost unnoticeable. This helps to avoid unnecessary aches and pains by keeping the blood pumping around your muscles, joints and back to your brain. It also helps to keep you awake!
Where Can I Use An Anti-Fatigue Mat?
As these mats are designed to reduce fatigue, they can be placed almost anywhere that people are standing for long periods of time. We’ve seen them used in a diverse range of areas - from behind the tills in supermarkets to behind the bar in busy pubs and restaurants (where they will even help to reduce breakages by your over-exuberant cocktail maker!)
Will An Anti-Fatigue Mat Make My Workplace Safer?
Anti-fatigue mats are great for workplace safety, because they help to combat tiredness. Being tired at work can lead to dips in concentration, productivity and spatial awareness. This can lead to accidents, and to reduced or poor quality output. An anti-fatigue mat helps to ensure that employees feel awake and active, and so significantly boosts their safety and performance in the workplace.
Best Anti-Fatigue Mats
Our favourite anti-fatigue mat is the Hog Heaven Modular II Anti-Fatigue Tile. This is a modular mat, which means that the different sections interlock - so it can be as big or as small as you require and fit any shaped area you need! It also means that it is suitable for a diverse range of applications, and so can be used anywhere from an assembly line to a distribution centre.
Another favourite is the Comfort Flow Anti-Microbial Rubber Mat. It is both non-slip and anti-fatigue, which means that you get a two-for-one. Having been grease proofed, oil proofed and anti-microbial treated, it is perfect for all kinds of workplaces. From kitchens to walk in freezers to external entrances, it is truly the mat that can do it all!
Entrance Mats
The final type of health and safety mat is the entrance mat. If you’re familiar with our blog, you may have read one of our previous posts on the topic. And if you’re not, then you may be interested in reading one of them - such as “How To Clean Your Entrance Door Mats”, which provides a more in-depth explanation of all things entrance matting.
Where Can I Use An Entrance Mat?
We won’t explain what an entrance mat is, because the answer is fairly explanatory. You can get both indoor entrance mats and outdoor entrance mats; the type you need depends on where you intend to place the mat, as this will dictate how durable it needs to be, and other performance factors.
Will An Entrance Mat Make My Workplace Safer?
Entrance mats are one of our most popular kinds of mats, because increased safety is just one of their great qualities. They collect dirt, debris and water at the door and prevent it from being tracked inside; this means that there is no slip hazard (and you have the added bonus of a clean floor!).
Best Entrance Mats
Our best selling entrance mat is the Waterhog Classic Heavy Duty Entrance Matting. This bi-level mat was designed to be highly durable, which means that it’s perfect for areas of heavy footfall - like supermarkets! It can retain up to 6.5 litres of water per square metre, and is placed in the interior of the property.
Another bestseller is the Tri Grip Heavy Duty Mat. The rubber nitrile base and choice of backings means that it won’t move around on the floor, while the twisted nylon face is great at removing everything at the door; this is a mat that can be laundered clean and was built to last!
Why Should I Buy A Health And Safety Mat?
Just as there are three main kinds of health and safety mats, there are three main reasons to invest in one for your workplace.
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Prevent Slips And Falls
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Work In Comfort
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Accident Prevention From The Outset
How Can Mats4U Help?
If you’re looking to purchase anti-slip mats, anti-fatigue mats, entrance mats or any other kind of health and safety matting, then you’re in the right place. At Mats4U we are proud to be the trusted supplier of matting for domestic, commercial and industrial applications, across a diverse range of sectors. We strive to provide the best quality products, for the best possible price, because we want everyone to access the benefits of high performance matting. We always endeavor to go the extra mile for our customers, which is why we offer free advice, free samples and anything else you may need to make a purchase that you are happy with.
To speak to a member of our dedicated team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact us today by completing an online form, emailing sales@mats4u.co.uk, phoning 0121 313 6748. We can’t wait to hear from you.
And to discover more informative and educational posts on all things matting, be sure to take a look at our other blogs.
