Safety Standards of Mats

There are two regulating agencies that dictate workplace safety, ANSI and OSHA. The first, American National Standards Institute, is a private, non-profit organization that cannot force businesses to comply with their standards. With voluntary compliance, though, businesses can put the ANSI seal next to their name and tout that the safety of their workers is a priority.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA) is a regulatory, governmental body that can enforce its codes on businesses. Their standards clearly point out that workplace safety is the job of the employer, and in many cases that means preventing slips and falls with mats. The make explicit rules regarding the presence of wet work processes, requiring proper drainage and mat coverage.

It is with these two agencies in mind that the quality of your safety mats should be high on your list of priorities. While OSHA can't govern the qualities of mats, they can require that you have them. That's why, when buying safety mats, check for ANSI compliance. Don't be shy about going elsewhere if the safety mats are not up to par.

Various uses of safety mats

Depending on your specific business, you may need a number of safety mats, but for most uses, a quality entry mat is all that is needed. This mat serves to keep the interiors of your business dry, and have the added benefit of keeping them clean. But since these mats are often thinner and less absorbent than more specialized mats, you may need a spare handy for rainy days.

The next place you may need a safety mat where you don't expect it is in the office break room or by the water fountain. Any place where spills may occur would benefit from a good floor mat. Even on carpet, the presence of water can be dangerous if somebody is caught unaware.