For almost 18 years I have been writing articles about the role entrance mats and matting play to help keep hard surface floors safe and reduce maintenance costs in commercial buildings. This is most especially true for those of you who receive ice and snow in the winter months. That season is already upon us in some parts of the country, but here in Northeast Ohio it could start next week but maybe not for a few more months, who knows. It has been said that NE Ohio has 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad sledding.
There is no argument that there are risks associated with owning or renting entrance mats. If you are renting them, you should be persnickety about the quality of the mat being placed in your building, because you now assume the risk of any trip/fall accident that may happen because of the rented mat, such as:
Is it dry upon delivery?
Is it lying flat?
Are the edges rippled?
Are the corners curled?
Are they overlapping?
If any of these issues are occurring, remove the mat immediately from service. That is due diligence.
Mats are a tool, and like any tool, you must know how to use them properly and safely. No one wants to pay the legal fees and settlement costs due to a slip/fall related injury that could have been avoided. These settlements can cost 10's of thousands of dollars!
If you have questions regarding entrance mats and matting, and safety issues regarding them, call me. I am a Walkway Safety Auditor Certificate Holder (WACH) with the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI).
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