Increase winter safety with a water-absorbent floor mat and non-slip workplace surfaces
Minimize a slip risk this winter by being mindful of where you walk
Are you ready for winter? In many parts of the U.S., snow, ice, and freezing-cold temperatures are making regular appearances. Wintry conditions make for slick surfaces on roads, sidewalks, steps, and indoor floors. And that increases the risk of slip, trip, and fall accidents.
In the workplace, winter-related slip, trip, and fall accidents can cost employers in several ways. Like lost productivity from employee absences. Or, liability insurance and worker’s compensation claims. And even lawsuits.
Insurance services provider, Zurich, reports the average value of a general liability claim for snow- or ice-related slip, trip, and fall accidents is around $85,000.
Meanwhile, the starting price for a water-absorbent floor mat is less than $20. Meaning that minimizing winter accident risks is smart for safety and business practices! Read on for helpful tips to keep your workplace safer over winter.
Preventing winter slips, trips, and falls
Slip-resistant floor surfaces will keep your workplace safer over winter
The best way to prevent slips, trips, and falls in the workplace is to always be aware of where you are stepping. And second, by keeping up with good housekeeping and maintenance practices. In other words, the right safety products can help reduce slip risks and prevent injuries at your facility.
Below we’ll cover a few non-slip products for floors and high-traffic areas. That means everywhere from your building’s front door to the warehouse stock room, and anywhere else between.
Make stairs and floors safer
Water-absorbent floor mat
An anti-slip absorbent doormat increases safety in workplace entryways
Absorbent floor mats aren’t just for soaking up oil leaks on your workshop floor. They are also excellent wiper and scraper matting for foot and vehicle traffic. Use them to remove moisture, dirt, or grit before or after it enters your facility.
Heavy-duty mats made of super-absorbent polypropylene will take in all liquids. Additionally, the non-penetrable backing will prevent concrete floor stains.
For walkways and areas around machinery, try an absorbent floor mat. This adhesive back matting can protect your facility from puddles that accumulate due to tracked-in snow and water.
Built for durability, industrial absorbency matting products are for semi-permanent applications. Unlike those machine-washable chenille bath mats or microfiber kitchen rugs with rubber backing that you use at home.
Non-slip gripper tapes
Gripper tread tape will add traction to ramps and more
One step in reducing fall injuries can be as easy as “peel and stick.” Non-slip tapes and treads offer a quick way to give extra protection to areas where slippery floors are a danger. For example, ramps or high-traffic areas like walkways. These tapes and treads are easy to apply and provide more secure footing on wet floors and stairs.
Non-slip tape comes in rolls, so you can easily size and cut the tape to your specifications. The tape comes in several colors: black tape, which blends in with the surroundings, and easy-to-see solid yellow and striped tape.
Stairs are accident-prone sites even in normal conditions. Add ice and slush, and they can quickly turn into high-risk areas. To make stairs safer in winter conditions, place non-skid treads on each step. Non-skid treads are available in solid colors and also with personalized printed messages. Such as “Caution,” “Watch Your Step,” and “Slippery When Wet”. And means you’re also offering employees a constant reminder to stay safe.
Don’t forget the stair tread covers
Tread covers for stairs help increase grip in wet wintery conditions
Another way to make stairs safer is by installing stair tread covers that give each step more traction. Two types of anti-slip step tread covers are available.
Fiberglass stair tread nosings are ideal for new constructions or renovations. For instance, indoor or outdoor stairs with wood, concrete, or metal steps. The long-lasting fiberglass resists chips, scratches, dirt, oil, and stains.
Aluminum stair tread nosings are useful for making worn, dangerous steps safer. The rust-proof metal treads have a mineral grit non-skid surface that will give you many years of service. These nosings are also compliant with federal OSHA and ADA regulations.
Other absorbency products and winter supplies
Winter weather can bring an abundance of nature’s aqua in many forms. Be it snow, sleet, hail, rain or ice. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to have a stock of general absorbents on hand in addition to non-slip floor mats.
Absorbent caution mats will warn of slip hazards while you clean up wet footprints
You can use versatile absorbent pads for water to soak up puddles or wipe up wet footprints. There are even absorbent caution mat pads to warn about slippery floor hazards. Absorbent booms or pillows are other handy toss-and-go solutions for soaking up rain puddles on your shop floor. Many are wringable and reusable, too.
If a winter storm poses the threat of damage to your building’s roof or pipes, consider investing in a leak diverter. These temporary and economical solutions will prevent puddles of rain on your factory or office floor.
In addition to a water-absorbing floor mat or doormat, there are plenty of other low-profile options for year-round use. For instance, in frequently wet areas like factory or industrial kitchen floors. There, a heavy-duty and slip-resistant kitchen mat also offers anti-fatigue benefits as well!
Talk to the workplace clean-up supply experts
During the winter season, you have an obligation to protect your employees and your business from slips, trips, and falls. AbsorbentsOnline makes it easy and affordable to make your workplace a safe place.
AbsorbentsOnline is here to help with personalized service that you won’t find on Amazon. Contact us by email or call toll-free at (800) 869-9633.
This is a revision to a blog post with an original publication date of December 3, 2014