by Brianna Crandall — September 4, 2015—With the Midwest having one of the wettest summers on record, high-performance mats have been installed at most major commercial facilities virtually on a full-time basis, according to matting provider Crown Matting Technologies. The company says this is because mats are one of the most effective ways to prevent a slip-and-fall accident.
When we walk, the muscles and tendons in our legs expand and contract, and our weight transfers from leg to leg. If all goes well, our center of gravity, located in the center of the body, stays stable and helps keep us balanced. However, things do not always go well, especially with wet weather, ice, or snow, and that is when an accident occurs, notes Crown.
The company advises building owners, managers, and facilities service providers in all locations that there are different types of slip-and-falls, including:
- The traditional slip-and-fall: This is when a person’s center of gravity is shaken after he or she loses secure foot contact with the floor.
- Step-and-fall: This is when the floor surface unexpectedly changes height—up or down—or there is an actual hole in the floor.
- Stump (Stub)-and-fall: Encountering an unseen or unexpected impediment or obstruction—for example, a drain cover that has lifted or a mat that has curled up—can cause a stump-and-fall. Stump-and-falls can also occur when someone walks over a “tacky” part of a floor.
- Trip-and-fall: A foreign object on the floor, such as a power cord or an unseen or unexpected step, can cause a trip-and-fall.
“To ensure safety and that high-performance mats work most effectively, inspect the mat during the course of the day,” said Adam Strizzi, marketing manager for Crown Matting Technologies. “If it has become saturated due to moisture, replace it with a fresh mat as soon as possible.”
Crown Matting Technologies has provided commercial and industrial matting for a wide variety of market segments, from offices and schools to hotels and industrial locations, for more than 70 years.
