Safety Laws by OSHA and ANSI for mats

Taking six to eight days off from work to nurse an injury or slipping and falling or paying thousands of dollars to clean dirty floors are situations workers and employers would want to avoid. Therefore, leading safety organizations such as OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and ANSI (the American National Standards Institute) have laid down some safety laws about effective floor safety systems to prevent hazards or undesirable conditions.

A good safety mat traps dirt and prevents slips, trips, and falls.

To keep workers and customers safe, workplaces must be well-oiled machines. That’s why  OSHA issues standards to keep them running smoothly. The regulation to keep floors clean and dry was first issued in 1974, known as statute 1910.22:

(a) All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.

(b) The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean, and so far as possible, a dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places should be provided where practicable.

OSHA mandates that workplaces have clean floors, but ANSI issued regulations in 2001 about updating floor standard systems with mats. The organization issued ANSI/ASSEA 1264.2-2001, the Standard For the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces. This standard details ways to create and maintain work surfaces and reduce falls. Provisions for reducing hazards include:

• Footwear applications and considerations for the work environment, including traction.
• Location, design, and maintenance of mats and runners, including special consideration for high-hazard areas.
• Housekeeping and maintenance  procedures, including required training, staff supervision, and floor monitoring.
• Pre- and post-incident warning, including signage/symbols and placement.
• Controlled access, including erecting barricades and containing hazards.
• Selection of walkway surface materials, including the discussion of floor-finishing and treatment options.

Waterhog Safety Message Mats embed messages into mats to promote a point

Purchase entrance mats that adhere to powerful ANSI guidelines. They are protected from the elements; these mats will catch any dirt or water brought through your front door and are the first line of defense against soiled shoes. From entrance mats to industrial mats, XpressMats selection is right in step with ANSI rules. Click here to view our expansive matting collections .

Note: The book “Slip and Fall Prevention: A Practical Handbook” by Steven Di Pilla is the referenced source for ANSI A1264.2-2001, pp.103-105.