There are two types of floors: floors that have been wet and floors that will be wet. Wet floors are an inevitability—even in the driest of buildings. Accidental spills and leaks are a natural part of life. Of course, that’s why we have those bright-yellow, wet-floor signs. But, they alone do not do enough. Think about it. Wet-floor signs prevent only by warning; they don’t actually affect the core issue—slipperiness. Plus, these signs are often haphazardly placed, making a vague statement about the condition of your floors without identifying precisely where the danger lurks. They only talk the talk.

That’s why non-slip floor mats have become essentials for commercial and residential buildings alike. Typically made from rubber, anti-slip matting enhances floor slip-resistance. Rubber is a naturally slip-resistant material, making its use perfect for any non-slip surface. Non-slip floor mats, such as floor safety mats, are the most effective way of combating the dangers associated with slipping and falling. Especially when it comes to your business, one accidental fall can put you in for a world of headache-inducing paperwork. Rubber anti-slip mats are a preventative measure that closely resembles an investment, preventing mistakes that will cost you a fortune in the long run. Unlike wet-floor signs, non-slip floor mats prevent by doing—they walk the walk. Below, we’ve listed five examples of places where non-slip floor mats are important, even when wet-floor signs are present.

Why is Non-Slip Flooring Important?

1. Non-Slip Floor Mats for Restrooms

A restroom is the first place that comes to mind when we think of a wet-floor sign. With all that flushing, handwashing, and cleaning going on, it seems like restroom floors are always wet. Because common restroom floors, such as tiles, are very slippery when wet, most business opt to erect yellow wet-floor signs to prevent customers and employees from slipping and falling. But, because human perception is fallible and because not everyone heeds warnings, slipping and falling happens regardless. Thus, bathroom non-slip flooring is a critical preventative measure that should always accompany any wet-floor sign. Non-slip bathroom mats are typically made of rubber, a material which has a naturally high coefficient of friction. As well, bathroom rubber flooring usually has an intentionally textured surface, such as ribs or perforations, that increases the degree of traction it affords its users. Even your residential restroom is a valuable place to put bathroom mats; non-slip capabilities are always worth it. If there’s any place that deserves slip-resistant floors, it’s bathrooms.

2. Non-Slip Floor Mats for Kitchens

Kitchens are another type of place that always needs non-slip floor mats. Wet-floor signs may be common sights in and near kitchens. But they alone don’t do much preventative work. After all, would you expect chefs and busboys to meticulously traverse each kitchen puddle as they scramble amidst the Saturday evening rush? That’s why it is so common to see perforated, anti-slip rubber matting covering every inch of a kitchen’s floors. A rubber, non-slip runner is often used to clearly define a particular walkway. Whatever traction mat is used, it almost guarantees that the kitchen staff can maneuver quickly throughout their stations without worrying about how wet the floors are. Additionally, rubber naturally absorbs shock, making it anti-fatiguing—comfortable to walk and stand on for prolonged time-periods. Thus, while protecting kitchen staff from slipping and falling, rubber slip-resistant floors also increase their overall comfortability as they go through their workdays.

3. Non-Slip Floor Mats for Food Courts

Food and drink are the usual suspects when slips and falls are afoot—especially in food courts. People behave negligently in interesting and surprising ways—there’s always that one fellow, carelessly juggling three or four plates of food across the entire court while talking on the cellphone. But there’s also plain accident. Someone bumps into you, and your water cup spills. No big deal—so long as non-slip floor mats are installed. Rubber is an anti-slip material, making it perfectly suited for anti-slip applications. In addition to enhancing everyone’s footing, non-slip rubber mats protect the building’s flooring from the impacts and abrasions of everyday activities. Also, because rubber is naturally water-resistant, it’s easy to clean. Thus, spilled foodstuff can be removed quickly, making the food court a cleaner place overall.

4. Non-Slip Floor Mats for Common Areas

Common areas are places that see constant, heavy foot-traffic. Impacts and abrasions contribute to the general wear and tear that the floors of these places often experience. Furthermore, constant foot-traffic means constant cleaning, leaving puddles of moisture that can aggregate into dangerous slip and fall hazards. Thus, common areas are primary candidates for the installation of non-slip floor mats. Most non-slip floor mats are made of rubber, a material which naturally absorbs shocks. Thus, while adding traction, anti-slip rubber mats ameliorate the effects that impacts and abrasions have on a structure’s subflooring. Floor safety mats are a top choice when it comes to upgrading any common area.

5. Non-Slip Floor Mats for Entryways

Entrances are a building’s busiest places. The entrance is where everyone enters and leaves, no matter where inside the building they go. As well as being busy, building entrances are usually outdoors, which makes them highly likely to become slippery—rain, snow, and other outside conditions will constantly affect your building’s entrance. Thus, non-slip floor mats are a must when it comes to building entryways. For longer entrances, a rubber non-slip runner will cover the entire length of the path. Because rubber anti-slip mats enhance your visitors’ footing, you can rest easy, knowing that you’ve invested in a necessary preventative measure to protect your guests. Now, one might suggest that a wet-floor sign does the same thing for a fraction of the effort. Not quite. Whereas wet-floor signs assume that its users see the sign, rubber non-slip flooring doesn’t rely on its users to be effective: They are effective as is.

Summary: Is a Wet-Floor Sign Enough?

Let’s tackle this question again: Is a wet-floor sign enough? The short answer is no, not really. While a wet-floor sign does do a good job of warning pedestrians of impending danger, it’s only a warning—and does little to actually enhance people’s safety should they ignore the sign. Thus, wet-floor signs should be seen as accessories to any preexisting rubber safety matting—telling people to tread carefully whilst walking on the rubber anti-slip matting. Even further, from a business perspective, anti-slip mats make sense. Slip-and-fall claims are invoked when someone feels that their slipping and falling could have been prevented had the establishment’s owner taken the proper precautionary measures. Sometimes, a wet-floor sign alone is enough to vindicate the property owner. Other times, like when the slippery walkway is the only way of entry and exit, a wet-floor sign alone is not enough—making the owner blameworthy for the person’s injury. Thus, implementing a non-slip surface in the form of floor safety mats or other kinds of non-slip floor mats is the thoughtful—as well as wise—thing to do. Invest in your establishment by installing—where it’s most needed—a rubber mat. Non-slip capabilities are a given when it comes to rubber products. Don’t hesitate. We at Rubber-Cal are here to help.