Essential Tips & Solutions to Minimise Slip and Trip Hazards in Oily Environments
It goes without saying that oily environments have an increased risk of slips and trips when compared to other working environments. With the right choice of anti-slip matting, though, you can help to reduce this risk, keep your employees safe and help to minimise the likelihood of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) occurring as a result of long periods of standing. In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of non-slip and anti-fatigue mats for oily environments.
What are anti-slip and anti-fatigue mats?
Anti-slip mats
Anti-slip mats are commonplace in a lot of commercial and industrial environments. Usually made of rubber, these mats are textured to help improve grip and remove the need for walking across hard floors that could be slippery underfoot. In an oily environment, this risk is very prominent, and so anti-slip mats are a must.
Anti-fatigue mats
Anti-fatigue mats also provide extra grip, but their main purpose is to provide support and cushioning. Long periods of standing without proper support can be stressful on joints and muscles – if people are standing on hard, tiled surfaces for example – and so anti-fatigue mats provide a softer surface to help alleviate the pressure. Without anti-fatigue matting in place, people can develop Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) which can cause long-term pain.
The importance of non-slip mats for oily environments
Slips and trips are a very common cause of workplace injuries. Data from slipstripsandfalls.org.uk shows that slips and trips are responsible for 37% of reported workplace injuries and 28% of workplace fatalities. As the presence of oils, grease and other liquids is so common in industrial environments, oil-resistant anti-slip mats are vital. Certain types of non-slip mats also incorporate drainage holes to collect spilled liquids, which stops them from pooling on the surface and further increasing the risk of slips.
The benefits of anti-fatigue and anti-slip matting
Improved safety
This is the primary benefit of anti-slip and anti-fatigue matting. In a busy environment, with people often walking around with heavy (and sometimes sharp) tools, a slip or trip could be extremely dangerous, and an oily surface will only serve to make those slips more likely. Rubber matting provides serious grip and support to ensure people can walk around with confidence, rather than watching their feet everywhere they go.
Improved comfort
According to our 2018 Standing at Work survey, back pain accounted for 85% of health conditions as a result of standing at work, with 50% of respondents saying they (or colleagues) had suffered from varicose veins and 47% having sore feet as a result of their occupation.
Long periods of standing can be uncomfortable and pose risks to our physical health. It can lead to joint and muscle pain, as well as general tiredness and discomfort. Anti-fatigue mats are designed to combat these issues by providing a supportive, comfortable layer between foot and floor that reduces the stress on our bodies.
Increased productivity
If staff are stood up for long periods of time, you’ll eventually become uncomfortable, tired, or start to feel pain. They’ll then need to take breaks to alleviate the discomfort, which reduces the time spent at their workstations. Anti-fatigue matting for oily environments can help to reduce the need for avoidable or unnecessary breaks, which will help to increase productivity in the workplace.
Reduced risk of damage
Anti-slip matting helps to reduce the risk of stock and equipment damage in two ways. It reduces the risk of slips and falls, which reduces the risk of equipment or stock being dropped, but it also helps to protect what is dropped by cushioning the landing. Fewer breakages means more money saved!
Do oily environments need different mats?
Oily environments such as garages, manufacturing plants and other industrial premises have an increased risk of slipping due to the nature of the liquids that are likely to be spilled, such as oil itself and grease. So, oily environments can benefit from more robust matting that can better handle the tough requirements.
Oil and grease also contain chemicals that can degrade certain materials if left unattended, which means that not every type of rubber matting is suitable for oily environments.
Chemical-resistant and oil-resistant mats contain nitrile, so they’re perfectly suited to these settings, because it’s completely resistant to degradation from oil and grease.
With that in mind, read below to find out about some of our recommended matting solutions for oily environments.
Is there a legal requirement for anti-slip and anti-fatigue matting?
There is no legal requirement for a workplace to have anti-slip or anti-fatigue mats, but the Health and Safety at Work Act does state that employers have a responsibility to ensure the workplace floors are safe, and anti-slip mats are the best way to do this.
There is a legal requirement for any building open to the public to have safe floors and surfaces for staff, visitors and customers. Failure to do this could result in an accident, which could in turn lead to legal action and a potential compensation payout for the affected person.
At COBA Europe, we’re a leading provider of anti-slip and anti-fatigue floor matting for oily environments, providing an unrivalled selection of the highest quality chemical- and oil-resistant matting for busy workplaces. For more information about our non-slip matting, or any of our other products, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to help.
