Grocery stores have unique needs, unlike most types of retail and commercial settings. Further, whereas most people sit down when they go to work, in grocery stores, it's just the opposite. Most store employees are on their feet their entire shift.
This also means that grocery stores have unique needs when it comes to floor mats. They need a “systems approach” to floor matting.
This will help keep the store clean and healthy, but also help prevent slips and falls, and reduce worker fatigue.
A systems approach that Crown Matting Technologies suggests would be comprised of the following:
Entries
Several of our other blogs have discussed the importance of having at least 15 feet of matting at door entries. Plus, the floor mats must be of three types, each playing a role in capturing and trapping moisture, soils, and pathogens, so they are not walked into the store.
Back of the House
Grocery stores typically have large storage areas, essentially warehouses, behind the store. Dock stations can become very messy during the day. We want to keep warehouse dust and debris from spreading into other areas of the warehouse or into the store. Heavy-duty floor mats are required at each dock station. We also need floor mats at the front of the warehouse, right before entering the store. This will help capture dust and moisture that might be on workers shoes.
Registers
If you’ve never worked at a grocery store cash register, you have no idea what it can be like to stand on your feet for eight or more hours every day. Pain and fatigue are common. While anti-fatigue mats cannot eliminate all pain and fatigue, they can help considerably. This can also improve worker morale. The people behind the registers are the “face” of the grocery store. We need to do what we can to keep them happy.
Moisture Prone Areas
Areas around produce refrigerators often have automated misting systems to keep the produce fresh. This can make the floors around the refrigerators damp. Mats will help keep floor areas dry. Further, the entire produce and fruit area should have floor mats. These areas tend to become more soiled than other areas of the store.
A Few More Points
Rental mats are not designed to be part of a grocery store floor matting system. What we have discussed here involves high-performance mats, which are typically purchased from distributors or online retailers.
Also, grocery store mats must be cleaned regularly. This means vacuuming every day, sometimes during the day, and cleaning them as often as once per week using a carpet extractor. When clean, floor mats are most effective.
For more information on floor mats specifically for grocery stores, click here.
The Crown Matting Technology blog is where cleaning professionals and building managers find expert, practical advice on the many features and benefits of high-quality, purchased floor mats and how they can help keep your facility cleaner, safer, healthier, and looking its best. For more information, contact us at 800-MAT-LINE (628-5463).
Topics: Mats, entry mats indoor, how to clean entry mats, anti-fatigue mats, ergonomic mats
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