COBA Europe – Mats for Airports

Revolutionise Airport Safety with Matting Solutions that set the Standard

Heathrow Airport employs 7,500 people directly, and works with 350 external companies to manage another 75,000 staff members who work at the airport day and night. With such a huge number of staff, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of passengers who pass through the airport every day, safety mats are absolutely essential. In March 2020 the COBA Installation Team installed 248 sqm of Plan.a closed profile entrance matting, with Alba inserts in anthracite at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. Plan.a was chosen due to it’s ability to cope with heavy footfall on a daily bases. In this piece, we’ll look at why these mats are so vital and the things that should be considered when investing in entrance and safety mats for an airport.

Why are anti-slip and anti-fatigue mats needed in airports?

According to research from the Labour Force Survey, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for around 480,000 work-related injuries and illnesses – that’s 30% of the total amount.

That’s a significant proportion, and one that can be reduced if organisations take the appropriate steps to protect their staff. One such measure is workplace matting – anti-fatigue and anti-slip mats are designed to improve the comfort and safety of people in the workplace, reducing the risk of fatigue and injuries to joints and muscles.

The risks of slips and trips at work are obvious, but the problems associated with long periods of standing are less well-documented. Spending lots of time on our feet puts real stress on our joints and muscles, from our legs and feet to our backs, and over time, this stress can develop into significant health problems and injuries. When these occur, people need to take time off to recuperate, which can hamper an organisation’s productivity and even lead to potential legal action, depending on the cause.

Businesses have a duty of care to their employees, and these mats play a crucial part in that duty of care.

At airports, Anti-fatigue mats have another unique benefit. They also provide a protective layer around baggage handling – their cushioning provides a softer landing in case of accidental baggage drops. This can help with avoiding costly damages and claims!

Mats for large entrance areas

When holidaymakers are entering the airport with their suitcases, the last thing you need is muddy footprints and wheel tracks trailing behind them, or slip on the shiny new airport flooring. With matting like Plan.a Aluminium Entrance Matting, these footprints, tracks and slip risks can be eliminated before people enter the airport. The robust Plan.a mat helps to dry and clean footwear and wheels, so the airport floor remains dry, and there’s a lesser risk of people slipping. This also allows you to protect your internal flooring against dirt and debris that get tracked in from dirty shoe soles. Durability is crucial in these types of mats if they’re to endure heavy foot traffic – and plan.a is well suited for that.

Entrance areas at airports receive a large number of footfall and the Plan.a aluminium entrance mat is the ideal solution to withstand these conditions. Not only is the Plan.a a robust system, it is also made from aluminium, which can be recycled an infinite number of times, supporting a circular economy and offering a sustainable option.

Mats for external walkways

The most important aspect of any walkway is grip, and so external walkways should be appropriately fitted. COBAGRiP Sheet is an excellent example of a solution that provides extra grip without being difficult to traverse or install. It can be bonded or screwed into place, and its design means it won’t detract from the aesthetics of any walkway. Available in multiple colours, COBAGRiP is an ideal solution for external walkways. It can withstand the harsh weather conditions and provide grip in high traffic areas

The COBA Flooring team, a subdivision of COBA Europe, recently assisted Luton Airport Dart with a number of GRP products to prevent slips and falls. The COBAGRIP Sheets were installed throughout the walkways to ensure safe passage to all foot traffic.

Mats for baggage handling stations

Baggage handlers are on their feet for long periods of time, often lifting and carrying heavy cases. It’s therefore very important that steps are taken to reduce the stress on their feet and legs so that they can be more comfortable and more productive.

Deckplate is a great example of anti-fatigue matting for baggage handling stations. It’s a durable anti-fatigue mat that provides a cushioned layer for staff, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The bevelled edges also help to reduce the risk of tripping. An additional benefit is that these mats can also help to protect any cases that are accidentally dropped, which can avoid the risk of financial loss to the airline, airport or customer.

Mats for airport security stations

Standing for long periods will put a lot of stress on our muscles and joints, and too much of this can cause injury; and as airport security stations and staff are constantly busy, long periods of standing are to be expected. While the primary concern is always the injured person, these injuries result in time off work and decreased productivity. Investing in anti-fatigue mats could assist with preventing back pain.

With anti-fatigue matting such as Orthomat Premium in place, comfort is significantly increased and the risk of injury is significantly reduced. Its cushioning eases the pressure on the feet of staff, and the textured surface provides extra grip and increases the mat’s durability. It’s this durability and grip that makes it so well-suited to security stations, as the mat will not degrade from the constant movement that takes place in these environments.

Stairway safety

Whether it’s steps to the car park or airside steps from the tarmac to the plane, it goes without saying that grip on steps is essential. Accidents on the tarmac can be extremely dangerous, and accidents caused by a lack of appropriate safety measures can result in possible litigation and financial losses for the airport or airline.

With our COBAGRiP Stair Tread Anti-Slip, each step can be covered entirely in an anti-slip surface to help people remain steady when ascending or descending the stairs. We also have the COBAGRiP Stair Nosing Anti-Slip which attaches to the corner of each individual step, this is for a more minimalistic look. Its easy to install on either new or existing steps, the Stair Nosing adds an extra level of security underfoot.

The Luton Airport Dart steps were made safer by using the COBAGrip Stair Tread.

Mats for airport retail areas

From duty-free shops to clothing stores, retail areas are one of the most popular ways to pass time whilst waiting for a flight, and with so many people browsing, anti-slip and anti-fatigue mats can help make the shopping experience safer and more comfortable. In retail areas where aesthetics are key, the Marble Anti-Fatigue Mat provides the functionality and durability you expect from an anti-fatigue mat, but with a design that suits a stylish interior.

For those working behind the till, COBAelite Diamond is another extremely effective anti-fatigue mat. While it doesn’t have the artistic finish of the Marble Anti-Fatigue Mat, it has a textured surface for extra grip and bevelled edges for a reduced risk of trips. The cushioning underfoot will help staff to stay comfortable whilst working on their feet in the same spot for long periods of time. Your employees will thank you for investing in their comfort levels after standing long periods behind a counter

Another beneficial matting solutions to add to your retail area is logo matting. Although this isn’t the robustest matting solution on our range these promotional mats can provide you with additional advertising to emphasise brands selling in the store.

Mats for airport bars and restaurants

In these environments, anti-slip and anti-fatigue mats are crucial for staff. Busy bars and restaurants often involve staff rushing to and from one end of the bar to the other whilst they make drinks and serve food, which means there’s lots of potential for slips and trips. This is a problem on its own, but when factoring in glassware, sharp knives, crockery, hot drinks and expensive alcohol, the risk is amplified.

Anti-slip mats also help to prevent stock loss as well as injury, so they are an essential investment for any bar or restaurant. The COBAdeluxe Workplace Mat is extremely effective for bars; not only is it an excellent anti-fatigue mat with plenty of support and cushioning, but that cushioning also helps to prevent stock loss from any dropped glasses or bottles. Plus, its drainage holes stop spillages from pooling on the surface, which further reduces the risk of slips.

Mats for airport catering environments

Anti-slip and anti-fatigue mats play a key role in the safety of catering staff working round the clock to serve hungry holidaymakers. Dashing with hot, sharp and breakable items contains considerable slip risk, and spending hours at cooking and prep stations can take a real toll on muscles and joints without proper protection.

We supply a variety of anti-slip and anti-fatigue mats to protect staff from injury, with various nitrile-based mats available for resistance to the chemicals often found in cooking oils and grease.

The K-Mat Rubber Workplace Mat is an easy-to-install, nitrile-based mat designed to reduce fatigue and slips in commercial kitchens. With drainage holes to avoid the pooling of liquids, a raised surface for increased slip resistance, and cushioning to alleviate the stress on muscles and joints it really is perfectly suited to the needs of a commercial catering environment.

In the conclusion of the article, the critical role of matting solutions in enhancing safety and productivity at airports is emphasised. These mats protect employees from musculoskeletal disorders, slips, and trips, contributing to the well-being of airport staff and preventing potential legal issues. The article highlights a range of innovative matting solutions for various airport areas, underscoring their importance in maintaining a clean and safe environment. Matting options are also explored for retail, dining, and catering areas, ensuring employee comfort and brand enhancement. Ultimately, investing in these mats sets a high standard for airport safety and operational efficiency, ensuring a secure and smooth travel experience for all.

Our work with airports

We’ve worked with two major UK airports, Heathrow and Luton, to provide large-scale entrance matting and GRP products in order to improve the safety, cleanliness and hygiene of their entrance areas, walkways and stairs. See more of our work with Heathrow here and Luton here.