A recently released survey finds that most facility managers are well versed on the benefits of matting systems.  The survey was conducted for Crown Mats and Matting during early February 2008.  Nearly 120 people participated.

More than 95 percent of the respondents indicated they have mats installed at key building entries, and nearly 82 percent own, rather than rent, their mats.  "Typically, mats purchased by a facility are of higher quality and more effective than rented mats," says Christopher R. Tricozzi, vice president of sales and marketing for Crown Mats.  "This tells us that these facility managers know how valuable a high-performance matting system can be to the health of a facility."

Further, another survey question revealed that two-thirds know a high-performance matting system usually has a longer warrantee and is more effective at capturing and trapping soil.

Among other findings:
• 91 percent know high-performance matting systems play a key role in Green cleaning.
• 70 percent understand that a "scraper mat" is placed outdoors to aggressively remove soils from shoes.
• Similarly, 72 percent know a "wiper mat" is placed inside a facility to remove remaining soils, contaminants, and moisture from shoes.

Safety and Stopping Soil
One survey question asked how many people are hospitalized each day in the United States as a result of slips and falls.  "Most of the respondents said it was 1,000 per day," says Tricozzi.  "However, the correct answer is closer to 10,000, and many of these [accidents] could be prevented if an effective matting system was in place."

As to stopping soil, the respondents were evenly divided when asked how much money it costs to remove one pound of soil from a building.  Half answered $250 to $500, while others thought it was $750.  The correct answer, according to ISSA studies, is around $500.

The respondents were also asked what the term "Rule of 15s" means, as it applies to matting systems.  A third said it means mats should be 15 feet long. However, the Rule of 15s actually means three mats-a scraper, a wiper/scraper, and a wiper-each five feet long, should be placed at all building entries. This was correctly answered by about 50 percent of the respondents.

"Overall, we were impressed with the answers to the survey," Tricozzi says. "It is probably because of Green cleaning that so many people now know how valuable high-performance matting systems are to occupant health."