Prevent Mats From Becoming Trip Hazards

How do managers prevent mats from becoming a trip hazard?

This is a really big problem. Most standard rubber-backed carpeted floor mats do a reasonable job at helping reduce slips but, they often increase the risk of trips. That‘s because they ripple and bunch up after use, through the fatigue of laundering and as they age. We see these everywhere and call them “bacon” mats. If you are using a rubber-backed mat, managers and staff need to be very vigilant and continuously straighten the mats out and un-flip corners and edges. But if you have a ripply bacon mat, you have a problem. That is what New Pig’s Grippy Mat was designed to correct. Its adhesive backing ensures the mats lay flat and stay flat. This eliminates any risk of trips.  
  — Daniel Silver, Vice President of Product Development, New Pig, Corp.

Managers can prevent mats from becoming a trip hazard by purchasing the right product and the right amount of matting for the job. By investing in the correct mat up front, managers will see a quicker return on investment as a higher quality product saves money in the long term. Edging is also a critical component of matting to ensure there is a good transition from floor to mat. Thicker mats without proper edging can introduce a trip by simply laying on the floor.
  — Aaron Mills, Marketing Manager, 3M Commercial Solutions Division

By selecting the correct product. You don’t want a mat that’s too light weight or with not enough crush resistance and absorption. They also need to be observing for curled edges, buckles. If this happens it needs to be removed from service and replaced. The mat should lay completely flat at all times. In order to get the most out of your mat routine cleaning/vacuuming is recommended. Storing your mat properly will also prolong the life of the mat. Never store a mat upright. This will cause the edges to curl or become deformed.
  — Brian Evans, National Sales Manager, Superior Manufacturing

Maintain matting to ensure that it is sufficiently clean and dry to do its job. Make sure that mats lay flat without wrinkles or curled edges and they stay securely in place.  Transitions to other flooring or matting should be level or within ADA compliance.
  — JoAnn Durette, Vice President of Marketing, Mats, Inc.

Effective management of the mats is the key. Maintaining and monitoring mats while paying close attention to mat movement issues, saturated wet mats, soiled mats, edges that are torn or curled can cause trip or slip issues. It is important to act quickly and replace mats that show issues.
  — Mark Roberts, National Accounts Specialist, The Andersen Company

Facility manager need to create and implement a plan (we can help).  Matting needs to be inspected to determine that they are safe.  Cheap matting or matting improperly stored can curl, or undulate, and present as a safety problem when they should be a safety solution.  We provide storage cores for storing mats when not in use which helps keep mats flat and safe on the floor.  We provide ProGrip pads to minimize mat movement on hard floors.
  — Mitchell Saltzman, President, Proform

For information on customizing mats and the benefits of doing so, click here.