Most businesses rely on floor safety signs to warn their employees and customers of any risk of slipping and falling. You know these signs—they’re bright yellow, say ‘caution’, and depict a falling stick-figure. Their message is simple: Be careful—danger lurks. For the most part, floor safety signs work. They alert unsuspecting Samaritans to the potential injury at hand because, if we know anything, we know that slippery floors are no joke. However, floor safety signs themselves do nothing to actually mitigate harm should someone fail to see the sign. They only warn. And sometimes, that’s not enough.

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That’s why the wise business-owner installs an anti-slip mat over areas where spillages and, consequently, slip-and-fall hazards are common. An anti-slip mat is a proactive measure that doesn’t rely on the endangered individual’s attention. It works whether or not the person pays attention, a quality that places anti-slip matting a cut above other floor-safety measures. Creating a no-slip surface in your establishment requires more than signage—it requires tangible change. While anti-slip floors may sound costly, they are typically quite affordable. Companies like Rubber-Cal manufacture their rubber safety products using reclaimed rubber, a process in which the rubber from discarded car-tires is recycled into the production of new rubber objects. In doing so, the company expends significantly less in manufacturing its goods. And quality is never compromised. Thus, the buyer receives the same, high-quality product but at a reduced price. Companies like Rubber-Cal are making rubber products increasingly affordable while maintaining the same, high standard of quality that buyers expect rubber to have. For your business, a no-slip mat will likely be the inexpensive expenditure that turns out to save you untold thousands. The legal headache that accompanies a slip-and-fall accident in your establishment likely costs a fortune. Below, we’ve compared floor safety signs versus an anti-slip mat, answering your questions, such as “what is the purpose of a wet floor sign?” and “does anti-slip mat work?” In answering these questions, we’ll seeing their functions and expected results side-by-side, you’ll get a better picture of which product suits your preferences.

What Is the Purpose of a Wet Floor Sign?

The purpose of a wet floor sign is to alert passersby to a potential slip hazard within the immediate area. A wet floor sign tells people that the floor is wet and, therefore, slippery. Commercial bathrooms are places where you’ll commonly see this sign. Other examples include walkways and workstations where water is often spilled. As you’ll begin to see, wet-floor signs pale in comparison to non-skid floors, such as non-slip floor tiles, non-slip bathroom mats, and non-skid runners. Visually, floor safety signs are bright, usually a hue of yellow. They are purposefully noticeable, attempting to demand the attention of any passerby. Of course, this tactic typically works—people usually heed caution signs. But, as is usually the case, there are exceptions. Some people either don’t see or blatantly ignore floor safety signs. These cases are the backdrops for financial nightmares.

Now, perhaps this might be a little obvious, but it’s still worth pointing out: Floor safety signs take up space that could be used otherwise. Depending on where the sign is placed, space that could be used for walking or for equipment can be consumed by the sign. While this may not be a primary consideration for most business owners, it’s something to think about from a design perspective. Having something as jarring as a wet floor sign in your visual space can be off-putting to both you and your customers. After all, wet floor signs aren’t exactly known for their sleek design or for seamlessly integrating with their environments. Finally and most importantly, floor safety signs allow the hazard to persist. This, we deem, is the main issue with wet-floor signs. They don’t do anything to mitigate the dangerousness of the floor hazard. In cases where people fail to heed the warning, disaster can ensue.

What Is the Importance of Placing Wet Floor Warning Signs?

The importance of placing wet floor warning signs is that they are measures to prevent people from stepping into areas that are slippery. Because these signs are noticeable, for the most part, they do their job as safety measures. Business owners also place floor safety signs to reduce their degree of liability in the case that a slip-and-fall accident occurs on their property. If there was a wet floor sign at the time of incidence, the owner may be free from any liability. But this depends. Though, there are certain exceptions that may increase the degree of liability placed on the business owner. In short—what is the importance of placing wet floor warning signs? Floor safety signs are important for safety reasons, as well as legal reasons. We at Rubber-Cal recognize this fact—we argue that, primarily for safety reasons, an anti-slip mat should be used in tandem with floor safety signs to maximize slip-and-fall prevention.

Does Anti-Slip Mat Work?

An anti-slip mat absolutely works—it will cover the affected area with a no-slip surface, preventing people from accidentally slipping and falling even when they tread on the slippery surface. To maximize safety, floors covered with a non-slip surface are your best bet. Many no-slip mats can also be purchased in styles and designs that fit the aesthetic of your business. Companies like Rubber-Cal offer anti-slip matting in multiple colorways and with different textures. Given the possible combinations of colors and patterns, an anti-slip mat can be attractive—genuinely pleasing to the eye. Furthermore, an anti-slip mat increases the amount of walking space the room has when a floor hazard is present. Because slip-resistant flooring diminishes the danger of stepping on a slippery surface, patrons can actually step on anti-slip mats if they need to. Although a dry surface is of course safer, an anti-slip mat is designed to provide traction despite slipperiness. Finally, rubber, anti-slip mats are slip resistant. As a material, rubber has a naturally high coefficient of friction, which means that it is great for providing and enhancing traction. That’s one of the reasons for why car tires are made of rubber. Keeping vehicles’ grip on the road just one of rubber’s amazing feats. An anti-slip mat is made of rubber for a similar reason. Even when spills are present, individuals are better able to maintain their grip on the ground when standing atop slip-resistant flooring. When it comes to safety, rubber is largely unparalleled.

Given all the information we’ve just given you, the conclusion is clear: Floor safety signs alone are insufficient for enhancing customer safety to the degree that your business requires. After having compared floor safety signs against anti-slip mats, it’s clear which product does more for your business and saves you more in the long run. But, we’d like to highlight the fact that a wet-floor sign and an anti-slip mat are best used together. While a wet-floor sign warns people of potential danger, its an anti-slip mat reduces the chance that the danger actually inflicts harm (should the sign be ignored). Together, a wet-floor sign and an anti-slip mat are a powerful force for people’s safety. Nonetheless, if you had to choose one, anti-slip matting is the way to go. After all, it’s the option that most directly prevents injury from occurring.

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