Health and safety regulations are put in place to make sure everyone, including staff, contractors, clients and customers, do not incur injuries or illnesses in a workplace environment. When it comes to commercial settings, one of the best things to do to maintain high standards is fit drainage matting.
Health and safety rules for commercial settings
The most important element of health and safety legislation for commercial premises is to keep the environment safe and hygienic.
To do this, the Health and Safety Executive obligates businesses to conduct regular risk assessments to spot potential risks and eliminate them. They also need to train employees about health and safety, and ensure the environment has proper ventilation, lighting, space and is kept at a reasonable temperature of at least 16C.
They also need to keep the site clean at all times, including sorting out spillages, emptying waste bins, and clearing clutter.
There are obligations to regularly undertake fire risk assessments to guarantee everyone’s safety in the event of a fire, and undergo frequent electrical and gas checks by registered engineers.
Accidents also need to be reported and the business needs to hold employers’ liability insurance to protect themselves should a member of staff become ill or injured at work.
Essentially, they need to make sure the building is in a good state of repair and any appliances, equipment and fixtures work safely.
How can rubber drainage matting help?
Installing rubber drainage matting could be very beneficial to commercial business owners, as they can help to maintain a high standard of hygiene.
As they are made from 100 per cent nitrile rubber, they can trap dirt, debris and moisture, preventing these from being spread throughout the premises.
They are particularly useful on sites where there are drainage issues, as they help to remove moisture from the ground by soaking it up when people step on to the mats.
They are also resistant to oil, fat, grease and detergents, which means they do not become easily damaged and can remain in good condition for a long time. If staff leave oil prints on the mat, this will not reduce its integrity and continues to prevent dirt from being tracked throughout the rest of the building.
At the same time, the antimicrobial mats prevent bacterial growth, reducing the risk of infections from the site. This makes it safer for anyone using the premises, from staff to visitors, and may lower the number of days taken as sick leave.
According to the CIPD’s Health and Wellbeing At Work report 2025, employees in the UK took an average of 9.4 days off sick over the course of last year. This is nearly double the pre-pandemic figure of 5.8 days, showing that people are staying at home due to illness more these days.
The report also revealed the most common cause of short-term absences was minor illnesses, such as cold or flu, with 78 per cent of employees failing to come to work because of these.
By removing bacteria from the workplace, the heavy duty rubber floor matting helps to lower the risk of developing bacterial infections, such as impetigo, cellulitis, strep throat, food poisoning, urinary tract infections, and whooping cough.
Some bacterial infections can be fatal, including sepsis, and there is a higher risk of contracting these in certain settings, such as hospitals. Therefore, it is essential to minimise the spread where possible.
A person with sepsis can experience breathing difficulties, uncontrollable shivering, slurred speech, and muscle pain. Sepsis can advance very quickly, and can be fatal, so reducing the chance of developing it in high-risk environments is incredibly important.
Rubber drainage matting can also provide fatigue relief, which helps employees who have to stand for long periods of time, thanks to their cushioned surfaces.
This is essential to ensure the health and safety of members of staff, as it reduces pressure on their joints and muscles.
Without this relief, employees on their feet all day could suffer from neck or back pain, stiffness in the knees and hip, varicose veins, muscle cramps, bunions, plantar fasciitis, corns, achilles tendonitis and swelling in the feet.
Therefore, the anti-fatigue mats can reduce their risk of injury and keep them fit and healthy while at work.