29% of injuries in the workplace are caused by slips, trips and falls and are the biggest cause of absences in the UK. This costs businesses over £500 million per year!
Slips, trips and falls can occur anywhere in the workplace, but the rest of this article will focus on the areas that can be particularly hazardous.
Common areas where trips, slips and falls occur in the workplace:
Building Entrances
Slips, trips and falls can occur at the entrance to a building, whether you are inside or outside. Wet and wintery weather conditions as well as slopes and ramps can increase this problem further.
Using mats to effectively provide a non-slip surface, for people walking over the mats and for wheeled traffic, can help decrease injury occurring in entrances.
Using an outdoor entrance mat will help reduce the amount of water and dirt bought into the premises which is the main cause of slips and falls. An outdoor scraper mat with holes is perfect for removing dirt from muddy shoes and allows water to flow away from the walking surface, to prevent slips.
Bi-level Waterhog mats for indoor use let dirt and moisture fall in to the lower level of the mat, ensuring less mess gets tracked off further into the building, reducing wet floors and slippery areas.
You also need to ensure that the mat itself is not a trip hazard - If you are using a loose laid mat, you will need to have low-profile bevelled edging and rubber backing so it does not move. Alternatively, you may want to use a recessed mat, so it sits flush level with the surrounding floors to signiifcantly reduce a trip hazard.
Please see our selection of entrance mats here.
Kitchens, Canteens, Vending machines
Kitchens, canteens or flooring by vending machines can all be areas that are prone to spillages, which creates wet or even greasy spaces. Non-slip flooring or matting can contain spillages and ensure it is stored below the walking level to help these areas become safer, dryer and cleaner places, therefore reducing the amount of slips, trips and falls!
Grease and oils found in kitchens and wet environments all pose a risk to people walking around, so non-slip flooring in kitchens and canteens can provide better traction underfoot to help give peace of mind to you and your employees.
There are also multiple non-slip rubber mats that can help reduce slip, trips and falls.
To see our range of non-slip flooring and matting please see here.
Machinery / equipment
Areas by machinery and equipment can become dirty very quickly, with spillages of oil, grease, chemicals and debris creating slippery floors. Again, safety flooring and matting is key to keeping these areas drier and safer, to prevent workers slipping! They are designed to provide traction and any spillages are contained or flow away from the standing surface.
Washrooms
Toilets and washrooms are known for being wet and slippery areas and can be therefore very hazardous. To prevent slipping on wet or soiled floors, non-slip flooring can be laid to reduce the risk of injury. Non-slip matting can also be used around areas most at risk of creating a hazard, such as sinks and hand dryers, to ensure these wet areas are kept safe.
Need more help prevent slips, trips and falls?
Call us on 0121 313 6748 or use our Live Chat facility during normal office hours. Alternatively, send us an email to sales@mats4u.co.uk and we will be more than happy to help you.
