Floor Mat Systems Blog

Electrostatic discharge or ESD occurs naturally through a variety of sources, including the human body. It occurs when the positive and negative electric charges are not equal, which creates a charge-imbalance on your body. Just walking around a room can cause static charges to occur and when you touch the equipment or electronics in the workplace, you’ll feel a shock.

While this static shock only lasts for a second, it can create a lot of problems for your company and the person responsible for the shock.

Why Is Electrostatic Discharge Such a Problem?

Electrostatic discharge is very similar to a lightning strike but on a much smaller scale, so it does pose a few safety issues that are cause for concern. For example, it’s very uncomfortable for the person receiving the shock and this can result in a decrease in production. Not wanting to touch something you know will shock you is a natural instinct, even if it is on a mild scale but that’s just the beginning of the problems.

ESD can also damage sensitive components inside electronics and over time, it will burn out the circuit board rendering the items useless. It affects equipment in much the same way, which can cause your company to have excessive downtime. Both damaged products and faulty equipment will result in lost revenue for your company.

ESD is especially dangerous for employees that work in high voltage areas and with flammable materials. The static shock could ignite a fire or result in a shock that could result in death. For this reason, ESD is a real problem for industries and you must take steps to reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge in the workplace.

How Can You Reduce the Risks of ESD

Using ESD non-conductive floor mats is one way to reduce the risks of ESD injuring a worker or damaging your equipment. These mats absorb the static charge, which prevents it from running into the equipment or electronics your employees work with.

If workers are dealing with flammable materials or high voltage electricity, non-conductive floor matting is necessary. They work by creating a barrier between the ground and the employee. As a result, it prevents the ESD from causing electrical shocks or fires that could result in serious injuries.

Another option is to use accessories like the Heel Grounder to help reduce ESD. These fit around the heel of the insulative work shoes and they have a fabric strip that touches the person’s skin. Velcro holds them on, so they’re adjustable. They work by directing the static electricity from the person to the mat underneath their feet. For areas where small electronics are worked on, the stat-guard tablemat will help control static electricity.

Protecting your workers is top priority and taking steps to reduce static electricity in the workplace will help keep them safe. As a result, your employees will be happier, healthier and have the tools needed to increase production. It will also reduce lost revenue due to damaged equipment and electronics caused by ESD.

When you are brainstorming ways to make your business appear more professional and attractive to customers, entrance floor mats might not be the first thing you consider. We see entry floor mats everywhere, whether at home or at various stores we visit throughout the day; accordingly, floor matting can seem like a fairly nondescript choice. But commercial entrance floor mats have a number of advantages, ranging from their attractive appearance to their safety benefits.

Commercial floor mats come in a wide array of colors and styles that will appeal to any business owner. It is also possible to order custom logo floor mats, or mats with special messages, whether for the purpose of cautioning your guests or merely welcoming them. But even simple, black commercial entrance floor mats will lend a subtle touch of professionalism to your business.

However, commercial mats are good for more than improving appearance: custom commercial floor mats also make business areas safer for both customers and employees. Floor mats soak up the moisture that inevitably gets tracked indoors, preventing puddles and slippery floors that can cause accidents. They can be used on all forms of hard floors, including laminate and wood, but also stone floors like granite or marble, which can easily become slick and cause falls.

So if you are interested in improving the appearance of your business and adding a professional touch, focus on an area you may not have considered: your floor mats. By purchasing commercial entrance floor mats, you will not only improve the look of your public areas, but will also make your place of business safer for both your customers and employees.

Foot pain is a common problem that many people suffer with, especially when their job requires them to stand for long periods. When your feet hurt, you feel miserable and it can make you hurt all over. Not only is this very uncomfortable but foot pain can be serious and it’s linked to a wide variety of medical problems.

People tend to shift their feet around and put pressure on other parts of the body to try and relieve some of the pain in the feet, especially if one hurts worse than the other. This can lead to knee, hip and back pain along with varicose veins, joint degeneration and bone misalignment.

Standing for long periods can also cause fatigue, sore muscles and a decrease in blood flow, which can create even more medical problems. For these reasons, it’s vital that you take steps to reduce foot pain in the workplace and the information below can help.

The Right Shoes Can Help Reduce Foot Pain in the Workplace

The shoes your employees wear can cause foot pain if they don’t fit properly or if they’re worn out. You also need to wear the right kind of shoe or it can create even more problems. You can help by educating your workers on how important it is for them to wear the right type of shoes.

Wearing the right shoes can help to reduce foot pain and lower the risks of suffering from the problems caused by standing for long periods. For the best results, the shoes should have good support and plenty of padding to absorb some of the pressure created when standing.

Invest in Anti-Fatigue Floor Mats

Anti-fatigue floor mats are a great investment for any company that has employees who stand all day. These provide a cushion underneath the feet so workers are not standing directly on the hard flooring. They also encourage slight movement as the person shifts their weight, which relieves some of the stress on the body and increases blood flow. If you need help, our dedicated staff can go over the different options with you and help you choose the best type of anti-fatigue floor mats for your business.

How Reducing Foot Pain Can Increase Production

When someone’s in pain, it’s difficult to concentrate on anything else. All you want to do is find a way to make the pain stop and that makes it very difficult to do a good job no matter what type of work you do. When you can’t concentrate and stay focused on your job, you make mistakes that could lead to poor products or it could even lead to accidents.

Employees that deal with foot pain often miss work because they need to rest their feet. Some people even become unsociable and have bad attitudes due to the pain and these workers often lose interest in their jobs. While this is understandable, it’s a big problem for management because you need your employees to put forth their best efforts every day.

Encouraging your employees to wear proper shoes and using anti-fatigue floor mats throughout your facility will help reduce foot pain in the workplace. As a result, there will be fewer accidents, fewer missed days and you’ll see an increase in production.

Sitting for long periods is associated with many health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, stiff joints, poor circulation, spinal disorders and obesity. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to do all you can to help your employees take steps to counteract the effects of sitting behind a desk for eight or more hours a day.

One thing that you can do to help lower the risks of your employees suffering from one or more of these medical conditions is to allow them to take regular breaks. This way, they can get up, stretch and walk around for a bit. Another option that will make a big difference in the health of your employees is choosing the right desk chairs. You need ones designed to help take some of the stress off the body.

What to Consider When Choosing Desk Chairs for Your Office

Today, you have many different types of office chairs to choose from, so it pays to do some research and check out the different styles available. While searching through your options, pay close attention to the different feature each one has. This will help you pick out the style best suited for your office environment.

Office desk chairs should:

• provide maximum support for the back, hips and spine
• swivel and recline to allow for a wide range of movement to prevent straining
• adjust up and down to accommodate different heights, so the hands are above the desk and parallel with the floor and elbows will be in-line with the shoulders
• have a footrest to allow the knees and hips to be at right angles reducing the pressure placed on the knees, thighs and back

Extra features that you’ll find with some desk chairs include depth adjustment and adjustable backrests. The adjustable backrest allows the user to move it around until it provides proper support for the lumbar area.

Chair Floor Mats Are Also Important

Office workers have to move around all day in their chairs, which is why they are designed with rollers. It’s much easier to roll from one side to the other instead of standing up and stretching across the desks for the items they need or to use different office equipment. The workers will also need to slide back and forth when getting in and out of the chair. Therefore, you need the rollers to move easily to prevent straining.

That’s why chair floor mats are so important. They make rolling the chairs around much easier, reducing the stain on the back, legs and arms of the employee. Here at Floormatsystems.com we have a wide variety of chair floor mats suited for any office environment. You can even order custom chair mats to fit under odd shaped desks perfectly. Give us a call today to learn more about our products and services. We can even help you decide which mats would be best suited for your office if you’re not sure what you need.

The desk chair is a major investment for any office. The right choice will help keep your employees healthier and happier, which will increase production. It’s worth the extra time researching to find the best style chair for your business and don’t forget the floor mats. They can reduce the risks of sore, strained muscles by making it easier for your employees to move around in the chairs.

Carpet floor mats can help give your business a fresh, clean look that really brightens up your facility. These colorful mats have the ability to create a warm, inviting environment for both your visitors and your employees and that’s good for business.

With so many styles, sizes and colors to choose from, you can easily match any decor or company theme to enhance the overall look of your facility. You even have the option of purchasing custom-made mats if you prefer. However, some businesses avoid using carpet mats due to a common misunderstanding.

Why Do Some Businesses Avoid Carpet Floor Mats

Many people believe that having carpet mats in their facility can create a health risk for their employees and visitors. The reason for this belief is that dust, debris and other allergens settle into the carpet fibers. Walking across the mats can stir up these allergens causing asthma and other respiratory conditions, especially for people who already have respiratory problems.

Another problem is mold and mildew that can form when these mats get wet and that is a leading cause of poor air quality. Not only does this causes allergies to flare up but it can also cause a variety of serious health conditions that can make your employees and visitors sick.

These are real concerns but they are true for any type of floor mat or carpet. If you do not clean these mats properly, they will collect this type of debris. It’ll build up and everytime someone walks across them it will stir up these allergens. As a result, they’ll start floating through the air and that is what causes the problems. However, there is a simple solution to this very common problem that will allow you to use carpet mats safely.

Follow a Regular Maintenance Schedule

As long as you follow a regular maintenance schedule to keep your carpet floor mats clean, they are as safe to use as the all rubber/vinyl floor mats are. You just need to keep them properly maintained.

Tips for cleaning your carpet floor mats:

• Vacuum regularly, at least two or three times a day depending on how much foot traffic you have
• Wash your mats off with a hose every few days as needed and hang out to dry
• Clean up spills as soon as they occur to prevent them from soaking into the fibers
• Always allow the mats to completely dry before putting back in place to prevent mold and mildew from forming

Following the tips above will keep your mats clean and free of the mold, mildew and allergens that can cause upper respiratory problems and other medical conditions. You don’t have to worry about them making your employees or visitors sick when you keep them clean and properly maintained.

Floor mats can help keep your facility safer for your visitors and your employees by helping to reduce the risks of slip and fall accidents. This alone makes them a valuable investment but carpet floor mats can also help create a warm, welcoming environment that helps build a positive image for your company.

Every year tragedy strikes some unsuspecting family when a loved one is involved in some type of swimming pool accident. It’s hot and humid, so everyone wants to jump in and cool off but swimming pools can be very dangerous. You have to take responsibility and make sure your pool is safe for your family and friends. To do this, you need to know the risks so you can take steps to prevent accidents before they happen.

It doesn’t matter if you have a small 3-foot above ground pool or a large in-ground one that’s 10 or 12 feet deep, the following safety tips for residential swimming pools can help you stay safe this summer.

Drowning Is a Major Concern

Drowning is the leading cause of swimming pool deaths and it happens to both children and adults. Kids want to go swimming sometimes when parents are too busy to supervisor and instead of waiting they sneak off to the pool not realizing the dangers. There have even been cases where a neighbor’s child slipped into a yard to check out the pool and ended up falling in.

Whatever the case may be, drowning is a real possibility especially when kids play in or around the pool unsupervised but you can take steps to reduce these risks. First, talk to your kids about why swimming without adult supervision is dangerous. Explain how easy and quickly accidents can happen and that you must supervise them to make sure they’re safe.

Never let children swim alone and don’t supervisor them when you’re drinking alcohol or when you’re tired enough to fall asleep while sitting by the pool. It only takes a minute for something to happen, so you have to be alert when supervising. In addition, adults should never swim alone when drinking alcohol.

All homeowners should install a fence around the pool with a locked gate. The fence should be secure enough to prevent children and pets from being able to climb over it or squeeze through it. Keep the gate locked at all times and keep the key in a safe place. It’s also a good idea to buy a pool alarm that will sound off when something disturbs the water.

Electrocution Is a Real Problem

Drowning is not the only thing that you need to be aware of when it comes to swimming pool safely. U.S. News posted this news story, Electrocutions Raise Alarm before Summer. It explains how electrocution is a real possibility, especially with heated pools and those with lights for night swimming.

Don’t take chances! A professional company certified to work with electricity must do the wiring. This is the only way to ensure it’s grounded correctly and that the pool is safe for swimming.

Slip and Fall Accidents Do Happen

Another safety issue you need to be aware of is slip and fall accidents. Many kids and adults are injured every year due to falling around a pool or when going back inside the home when wet. The risks of someone slipping and falling can be greatly reduced simply by placing pool floor mats throughout the pool area. You should also place them at entranceways leading into the home or pool house. Entry floor mats will absorb the moisture and help keep these areas dry, which makes them safer.

Don’t wait until tragedy strikes to do something. Take steps now to ensure your pool and the surrounding area is safe.

Did you know that slip and fall accidents is one of the leading cause of employee accidents that require loss time from work? It’s also one of the main reasons why many companies find themselves in the middle of a big lawsuit. You are responsible for keeping both your employees and customers safe when they’re on your property, so you must do everything you can to prevent these accidents from happening.

If someone falls in your place of business due to negligence on your part, you may be required to pay the person a settlement that covers their medical bills and the mental anguish they went through due to the accident. Depending on the extent of the injury and the circumstances, this could end up costing a great deal of money.

Being found liability for an accident can hurt your company’s reputation and cripple you financially, especially if you have a small business. Therefore, it’s vital that you follow the proper steps to protect your employees, your customers and your business. Knowing the leading cause of slip and fall accidents will go a long ways in helping you prevent them from happening.

What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents

A number of different things can cause a slip and fall accident. Some of them are out of your control but you can take steps to reduce your risks. For example, poor lighting, items out of place and damp flooring are all things that can cause people to slip or trip and fall but they are things you can fix.

You must also be aware that sometimes people fake slip and fall accidents and it happens more often than you may realize. People do this in hopes of acquiring a large settlement from the company as a form of income. Fortunately, you can do several things to reduce the risks of both real and fake accidents from occurring in your place of business.

Tips for Preventing Slip and Fall Accidents

You can reduce the risks of an accident happening on your property by providing adequate lighting throughout the inside and outside of your facility. You should also avoid clutter. Everything should have a place and be kept up off the floor. Keeping your floors free of moisture is also an important part of preventing accidents caused by falls.

One of the best ways to do this is by investing in commercial floor mats. Entrance mats will reduce the amount of debris and moisture tracked into your establishment, keeping your floors clean and dry. Using commercial floor mats throughout your facility will help reduce the risks of falls even more. However, you do need to invest in good quality floor mats and don’t forget to use wet floor signs when the floor is damp due to spills or mopping.

Installing cameras throughout the building, both inside and out will help reduce the risk of being the victim of a fake accident. When an accident is caught on film, it’s much easier to prove that you done everything possible to make your establishment a safe place for everyone that enters. This will help prevent you from being found liable in a court of law.

When you take steps to prevent slip and fall accidents, you’re protecting your business in the process.

Commercial floor mats have been around for many years but you have a much wider variety of options to choose from today than ever before. Instead of plain solid colored mats that come in black or brown, you can purchase personalized floor mats in decorative colors that brighten up your facility.

They come in a variety of sizes and styles to suit any type of business and you can even have your floor mats custom-made to fit in odd spaces if needed. Personalized indoor floor mats have the power to leave a lasting impression on your visitors when placed throughout your facility and they allow you to communicate with your customers in a unique and interesting way.

Send Your Customers a Personal Message

Thanks to modern technology, you can create a personal message for your customers that show them just how important they are to you. A simple welcome mat placed at entranceways invites customers into your facility and one that reads “Thank You” helps to send the message that you appreciate their business. Add the phrase “come again” and you’re inviting them to come back to your establishment.

Having a good company image is vital to the success of any business. Everything you do, no matter how small, can help build a positive image for your company that earns you consumer respect. Sending your visitors a personal message with quality floor mats is one method that gets results. It helps to make your visitors feel special and that helps you to build a relationship with your customers that create repeat business.

Ways to Use Personalized Floor Mats

You can use these floor mats throughout your facility to provide direction for your visitors instead of the traditional signage you normally see. For example, you can use message floor mats to promote safety by reminding your visitors to think about staying safe. You can even use motivational quotes to help provide stimulation for your customers.

These messages may seem simple and unimportant but even small gestures can make a big impact on your customers. In addition, the crisp, brightly colored designs also enhance your décor and help to create a friendly environment where your customers feel comfortable. It’s a great way for your business to stand out from the rest and make an impression that’ll last for a very long time.

Added Benefits

Quality floor mats help to keep your facility clean and the entrance mats reduces the risk of slip and fall accidents caused by moisture tracked in during inclement weather. Personalized floor mats with anti fatigue properties will make standing at counters and checkout stations more comfortable for your customers. They’ll appreciate the extra effort you put into creating such a welcoming environment.

Personalized mats allow you to give your business personality and create interest that helps consumers remember you long after they’ve left your facility. The non-skid rubber backing is designed for safety, so they won’t slip and slide around when stepped on and they’re easy to clean. You can keep your customers safe, create interest and communicate messages with personalized indoor floor mats.

Commercial floor mats are used in all types of businesses and they serve multiple purposes. The most common type of mat used is the entrance mats. These help to reduce the amount of dirt, debris and moisture tracked into your establishment by visitors and employees, which keep your floors cleaner and safer for everyone.

Commercial floor mats come in a variety styles, sizes, colors and shapes and you have the option of renting or buying them. There are advantages to both depending on what type of business you have and the following information can help you determine which option is best for your particular needs.

Renting Commercial Floor Mats

After you choose a rental service and sign the contract, your floor mats will be delivered to your business. The company will come by every week to swap out the mats you have with clean ones. The number of times the company swaps them out each month will depend on your contract but it’s usually once a week.

You will need to sweep or vacuum the mats everyday to keep them clean between pick-up days, so they’re not completely maintenance-free even though the company cleans them for you. You should also consider that some rental companies don’t exchange anti-fatigue or kitchen mats, so you’ll need to get all the details up front before signing the contract.

There are some real benefits to renting over buying commercial floor mats, however. For example, it can be the preferred method in hygienic situations like hospitals. It can also help you if you are looking to be more eco-friendly with your business. There is no upfront investment and there is no inventory to get or keep track of.

Renting is a simple way to always have continuous clean items in supply and maintain that consistent quality you need for your business.

Buying Commercial Mats

Buying commercial mats is a good option with a lot of advantages. For example, you do have a wide selection of sizes, styles and designs to choose from, so you can pick what suits your business the best. Cost is another factor that you should consider. While renting mats is cheaper in the beginning than buying them, this soon changes. The longer you have the rental mats, the more expensive they become because you'll have to pay the rental fee every month. When you buy, you have the onetime fee and that’s all.

Buying is also more eco-friendly because it cuts back on fuel consumption and it reduces the harmful emission released into the air each week as the company drives around to exchange mats. In addition, these companies often use chemicals that are dangerous to the environment to keep the mats clean. When you buy your mats, you have the freedom to use an eco-friendly cleaner.

Commercial floor mats can help protect your customers, keep your facility clean and make a good impression on anyone that enters your facility. Buying your mats instead of renting is usually a good business decision for most companies due to the many benefits.

Food and seasonal allergies are a real problem for students, teachers and staff members in schools. These allergies can be mild or severe and they can cause a wide variety of health problems. Depending on the type of allergy the person has they can even be life threatening, which is why it’s so important for schools to take steps to manage both food and seasonal allergies. It’s a major part of keeping schools safe for everyone.

Food Allergies Is a Major Concern

Food allergies are the biggest concerns in schools because they can be the most dangerous. If a child comes in contact with food they’re highly allergic to, it can be fatal. Food allergies are a real problem but there are a few things that both parents and the schools can do to reduce the risks. Parents need to let the school know what foods their child is allergic to and make sure the student’s teacher knows about their allergies. Provide as much information as you can to the school.

Schools can take steps to reduce the risks of students from coming in contact with something they are allergic to by prohibiting students from sharing food, especially packed lunches. Another option is to ban foods known for causing major allergic reactions such as peanuts, to help keep these foods as far away from students with life-threatening allergies as possible. Keeping parents informed and reminding them that some students do have these allergies is also important and a good way to help keep dangerous food allergies in schools under control.

Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies are also a problem for students. If these allergies get out of hand, students begin to miss classes and it can greatly interfere with their education. Even if they still show up for class, it can be difficult for students to concentrate when they’re sneezing, their nose is running and they simply just don’t feel good. It can be disruptive for other students, too. In addition, many students suffer from asthma, which seasonal allergies can set off.

Some of the ways schools can manage seasonal allergies is by maintaining a good ventilation system. Experts recommend that schools use high efficiency filters to keep the air clean and these must be changed often. Keeping the air that circulates within the school clean will make a difference but so will limiting the amount of containments that enter the building.

One simple but very effective way to do this is by using commercial floor mats. Entrance floor mats will reduce the amount of dust, pollen and other contaminants that cause allergies from being tracked into the school buildings. Using both outdoor and indoor entrance mats will provide the most protection and it will also help to reduce the amount of moisture that enters the school buildings.

This will help reduce mold from forming, which can cause serious respiratory problems. Keeping windows shut, limiting outdoor activities when allergy season is at its peak and keeping the school clean can also help. Protecting students, teachers and staff members from both food and seasonal allergies is imperative in order to keep everyone as healthy as possible while on school grounds.