Safety—whether it’s in the home, in the workplace, or elsewhere—is of utmost importance. We valiantly protect those who have entrusted us with their care—often doing so at all costs. But, we can sometimes forget the most obvious dangers. These are the ones that lurk in the background, beyond our view, right underneath us. And they only appear once they have done their damage. We’re talking about slippery floors—the stuff of nightmares: anywhere from a minor bruise to a severe, traumatic brain injury. Financially, this can mean 30-to-40-thousand-dollar medical bills and, potentially, countlessly higher legal fees. That’s why we at Rubber-Cal offer a myriad of options for turning any slippery surface into a traction surface. Because rubber is one of the best materials for enhancing traction, most traction mats are made of rubber. After all, car tires—objects that demand the most traction—are made of rubber. Considering all the danger that slip and fall hazards pose, nonslip flooring is an essential part of protecting you and those you care about. Below, we have compiled a list of reasons for why a traction surface is integral to your home and workplace.

What are the most common slip and fall injuries?

Slips and falls are exceedingly dangerous. Indeed, in the U.S. alone, 15% of all accidental deaths are attributable to slips and falls. Severe injury happens often, too. While these serious injuries take many forms, the most common are broken bones, hip fractures, and traumatic brain injuries. It is harrowing—especially considering the fact that when we think of danger, slipping and falling is often forgotten. With a traction surface, you can prevent slips and falls before they happen, avoiding the potentially dire consequences that come with such disaster.

What is the #1 workplace injury?

Slips and falls are the most common workplace injury. Accounting for roughly 30% of all non-fatal injuries, slips and falls are ubiquitous across almost all industries. Because employees are often on their feet or are moving between locations, slippery surfaces pose a great danger. Indeed, it is common to see water spillages or leftover cleaning supplies on workplace floors. Thus, non-slip mats are a critical part of workers’ safety. By using anti-slip floor mats, you are creating a traction surface where—otherwise—workers would always be at risk of slipping and falling. What’s more, on average, each worker misses approximately 11 workdays per year due to accidents related to slipping and falling. This means that, by installing non-slip rubber mats over your workplace’s hazardous zones, you are also avoiding dents in your business’s overall productivity.

What is the most common injury at home?

At home, the most common injuries are those associated with slipping and falling. These injuries can range anywhere from minor to fatal, depending on the severity of the fall. Typically, falls happen on stairs, in bathrooms, or in the kitchen. These locations are oftentimes wet, creating slippery floors that lead to dangerous accidents. To prevent these accidents from happening, the best advice is to install anti-slip flooring over places that are prone to causing injury. Creating a traction surface wherever there’s a chance of slipping and falling minimizes this risk.

How many slip and fall deaths per year?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that roughly 17,000 people die per year as a result of slipping and falling. This figure is initially alarming. However, when we consider the preventative measures available to us, it is not quite as bad. Companies like Rubber-Cal offer a vast array of different anti-slip matting products—each one has its own niche. Thus, by using traction mats, you are better protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your employees. A traction surface is practically essential, given the significant rates at which fatal slips and falls occur.

With all the above in mind, it is clear that everyone should consider installing some sort of traction surface where they live and work. This should be done, not only to protect yourself, but to protect the people around you, too. The best way to do this is to use traction mats and other forms of anti-slip matting. Of course—as we have said—rubber is the best material for creating a traction surface: To prioritize safety, surfacing your floors with slip-resistant rubber. But why? As a continuation of our list, we have compiled multiple reasons for why rubber is the best anti-slip material.

Is rubber slip-resistant?

Rubber has a naturally high coefficient of friction, which is a quantitative way of measuring how much traction something creates. Because rubber has a naturally high coefficient of friction, it keeps objects in place much better than most other materials do. Thus, in conditions that would make floors like tile or hardwood slippery, rubber continues to enhance footing. This quality makes rubber one of the best materials available for creating a traction surface. On other materials, slipperiness is a real safety hazard. A rubber traction surface substantially diminishes this threat.

Are rubber mats slippery when wet?

As well as having a naturally high coefficient of friction, rubber is naturally water resistant. This means that, compared to other materials, rubber remains robust in the face of liquid. Wet floors are the primary cause of slips and falls, especially in the workplace. Because rubber resists water so well, it is the perfect material for non-slip applications. As if that wasn’t enough, rubber can be easily cleaned after having been exposed to moisture. That’s why anti-slip tiles, anti-slip floors, anti-slip matting, and other traction-surface products are usually made of rubber: It is the best material for the job.

How long do rubber mats last?

Typically, rubber mats last about 20 years—especially if they are properly cared for. A traction surface experiences an ineffable degree of rough treatment. From abrasions to impacts, the material out of which a traction surface is made significantly affects how often it will need to be replaced. Of all the materials which significantly enhance traction, rubber is one of the longest lasting. Now, roughly $400 for a 4-by-50-foot rubber sheet may seem steep. Really though, it’s not. 20 years is a long time. If you administer the basic care that rubber safety mats require, you are really paying only $20 a year for a safety measure that could save you thousands. That’s why we at Rubber-Cal place so much emphasis on the idea that anti-slip mats are an investment. Eventually, they make their money back—and then some.

Non-slip mats are textured

What do we mean by textured? At Rubber-Cal, the non-slip flooring options we offer feature intricate textures, making the surface of the mat somewhat like a miniature model of Earth’s rockiest terrain. Don’t worry, though—they are still very comfortable to walk one. This texturing is done so that our safety mats—while already enhancing traction—take it to the next level. You can never be too safe when it comes to safety.

Safety matting is versatile

Versatility is a highly desirable quality in any product. It makes the product more valuable. After all, instead of getting many things for many tasks, why not get the one thing that can complete all the tasks? Rubber is like this. We would need a book to just list everything that rubber can do. For this article, we will highlight one trait: rubber’s maneuverability. Rubber anti-slip matting is itself heavy enough to stay in place once you roll it out. Thus, if you need a semi-permanent traction surface, one made of rubber is the ideal candidate. The central work areas change by the month, you can shift your traction mats accordingly. Need we say more? While the Renaissance was busying itself with the Renaissance Man, the modern era has given birth to the Renaissance Material—rubber.

With all the reasons above for why rubber safety matting is the best nonslip flooring, a rubber traction surface should be your first consideration for addressing any slippery surface. A rubber traction surface prevents a plethora of potential injuries and expenses, which is why we like to think of it fundamentally as an investment. In a word, a safety rubber mat is a wise choice. We at Rubber-Cal have many options available to you when it comes to traction mats. Start investing in your future now.