Just about all mats and matting can be classified as a safety mat for one reason or another. The main reasons we use mats is to protect floors, trap dirt and water or prevent slip and fall accidents. The latter is what we primarily focus on when classifying a mat as a safety mat. Because the definition of safety matting is so broadly generalized, we have narrowed it down to serving four main functions or applications.
- Prevent tripping hazards with a safety beveled edge or adding a yellow safety border on all edges to draw attention that a mat is present. Safety bevels and borders are most commonly added to anti-fatigue mats because their thickness can range from 1/4" to 1" thick.
- Prevent slip and fall accidents. A safety floor mat with a diamond-plate surface can provide better traction in slippery areas. In areas, such as industrial or food service, where water or grease is constantly present, a non-slip safety drainage mat can provide safer footing by allowing water and debris to channel through the drainage holes and flow under the mat. For extremely hazardous areas where traction is imperative, we offer mats that have GritWorks applied to it for superior slip-resistance.
- Non-conductive safety mats, most commonly called Switchboard matting, are designed to insulate and protect workers from deadly shocks generated by high voltage equipment. These are true safety mats because their primary purpose is to save lives!
- Some safety mats and products are designed for specific applications. These would include such applications as welding, emergency shower stations, clean room environments and loading docks.
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