Keep Workers On Their Feet With Commercial Kitchen Mats

Slips and falls are a leading driver of claims within the food service industry. When used properly, kitchen matting can be an effective solution for keeping people on their feet. I’ll cover how they work and some tips for making them as effective as possible. 

How they work

Generally speaking, matting provides a higher friction surface than the installed flooring. This is particularly helpful in a kitchen where various liquids, including oils and greases, are commonly spilled on the ground. Commercial kitchen mats are typically made of nitrile rubber for two reasons. Nitrile has antimicrobial properties to help meet food safety standards, and it’s highly slip-resistant. The pliable nature of rubber absorbs some of the horizontal force behind each step taken and reduces the likelihood of a slip. Kitchen mats also have an open grill design to allow liquid spills to drain to the floor below.

Don’t create a new hazard

Kitchen mats should be carefully selected and placed to ensure they don’t create a trip hazard for your workers. They should have a beveled edge and, ideally, be of a color that contrasts with your floor to make them visually pop out. If you have a large area to cover, consider using products with an interlocking design that can be configured to your kitchen layout – be sure that the entire outside perimeter has that beveled edge.

Clean mats regularly

While kitchen matting is slip-resistant, that doesn’t guarantee your workers won’t slip on them – especially when they are contaminated with oil or grease. It’s important to establish routines to keep mats clean. It’s generally recommended that mats be cleaned by spraying them with water and applying a cleaning solution (such as a degreaser) using a deck brush. This will typically need to be done outside of the kitchen. If you have several mats, consider investing in a mat transport cart, which can reduce the amount of lifting required and provide a place for the mats to hang dry. 

If you have further questions or need assistance with establishing a matting system for your workplace, please contact ICW Group’s Risk Management Services. We are happy to assist you.

Brian Piñon
Brian Piñon
Brian joined ICW Group in 2015 and provides risk management services to policyholders in our Northern CA region. As a technical specialist, he also leads the effort to develop and implement new strategies for assessing and reducing ergonomic and same level fall risk exposures. Brian assists clients across a spectrum of industries, including healthcare, property management, warehousing and distribution, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. Brian earned a BA in International Relations from the University of California, Davis. His professional certifications include the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP).

Related Articles

10 Essential Hazard Communication Safety Tips

Hazard Communication is once again the second most cited OSHA standard in 2023. Violations of this standard revolve mainly around the handling, management, and storage of harmful chemicals in...

OSHA Unveils Top 10 Safety Violations for 2023

Every year, OSHA shares its top 10 most frequently cited safety violations. The list applies across all industries and is essential in understanding the most prevalent workplace safety concerns....

A Step-By-Step Guide to Your OSHA-Required Respiratory Protection Program

The OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard directs employers to establish or maintain a respiratory protection program. It lists requirements for program administration, worksite-specific procedures, respirator selection, employee training, fit testing, medical...

Sign up for the Work Comp Connect newsletter

Subscribe today and get work comp insights from ICW Group in your inbox.

Sign up for the newsletter