Anti-fatigue mats that slide around are a slip hazard, force operators to constantly watch their steps rather than focus on the work, and reduce productivity in high-demand environments. How you can you prevent it from happening?
Here are 6 ways to stop your anti-fatigue mats from sliding:
1. Stop piecing disconnected mats together
40% of the safety and production leaders we polled say "having to piece together rectangular mats to cover a complex work area" is their No. 1 anti-fatigue mat challenge, specifically the slip and trip hazards this causes.
Piecing together disconnected mats leaves each individual piece, in effect, out on an island rather than part of a whole. This makes them prone to sliding on slick/smooth floors.
Faced with this issue, Woodward Inc. designed a custom anti-fatigue mat to a precise shape and size to fit the work area. The glove-like fit combined with how the 100% nitrile material more naturally adheres to the floor than traditional PVC or gel mats, keeps the mat in place with no threat of sliding. 
Woodward Inc., an aerospace manufacturer, replaced multiple pieced together mats that were sliding around with a single custom 100-1 Series mat designed to fit the workstation.
2. Consider the mat materials
Anti-fatigue mats made from gels, PVC foam and nitrile-PVC blends are more likely to slide because they aren't designed not to slide.
The materials aren't impervious to liquids and chemicals, which make them more prone to buckling, curling, and eroding over time. As the bottom surfaces buckle and break down, it can lift the edges of the mat off the ground – reducing their grip on the floor and making them likely to slide. This is especially common in environments with oils, chemicals and particles that build up under your mats.
At AcroMat, we make our 100-Series mats from 100% nitrile closed cell rubber foam. Pure nitrile aids in adhering mats to the floor because it's impervious to liquids and chemical-resistant; it's literally incapable of absorbing either. This combined with the textured bottom surface and a precise shape help keep the mats in place.
Left: PVC diamond-plate mat pieces strewn throughout a workstation. The materials and half-hazard approach create significant sliding risks. Right: One-piece custom mat designed to fit, made from 100% nitrile. Andersen Windows.
3. Create a glove-like fit
Workstations come in all shapes and sizes. Designing a custom anti-fatigue mat precisely to fit the workspace can create a glove-like fit, which gives the mat nowhere to slide.
When mats are designed precisely for an area, they "fit like a glove" and have nowhere to slide. Lunds & Byerlys. Designed with AcroSketch.
4. Use a non-slip backing
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to keep your mats from sliding is to add a non-slip coating to the bottom surface of your mat.
At AcroMat, we manufacture non-slip coating called Grip-R which can be added to the bottom of any mat and creates a higher coefficient friction for especially slick floors. Grip-R is eco-bio friendly, waterproof, leaves no residue on the floor, and can be re-applied as needed. Grip-R can be applied to any mat order with AcroMat, or you can buy by the jar.
In less than 2 minutes, watch how Grip-R Non-Slip Coating, an AcroMat product, is easily applied and keeps your anti-fatigue mats from sliding.
"We've had our mats down for a year, and they haven't budged." Amanda Eskew, CSP, EHS Specialist with Nokian Tyres, shares how her team eliminated sliding mats with custom AcroMat mats and the non-slip backing Grip-R.
Industrial tapes, such as Mighty Line Safety Floor Tape, can also help keep mats in place if properly applied and monitored. However, lower-quality tapes will peel, potentially creating trip hazards in fast-moving areas.
5. Look for non-slip certified products
Independent testing and certification can help you ensure the mats you're investing in are not prone to sliding.
The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) is the leading independent testing agency for anti-fatigue product testing, certification, and standard development. They use an intricate testing system that helps manufacturers like AcroMat learn how our products actually help keep users safe from slips, trips, and falls. More importantly, the test results provide you with insight to make confident buying decisions.
NFSI's testing system provides mats with a Transitional Coefficient of Friction (TCOF) rating:
- Lower than 0.4 – Low traction / higher probability of sliding
- Between 0.4 and 0.6 – Moderate traction / average probability of sliding
- Greater than 0.6 – High traction / low probability of sliding
According to the NFSI, mats in the "low traction" category are more prone to movement, which can increase the risk of sliding, buckling, and curling. Mats in the "high-traction" category – 0.6 or greater – have proven to reduce slips, trips, and falls.
NFSI has a comprehensive public database of every anti-fatigue mat and flooring product that have earned "high traction" certification. If the ergo mats you're considering are certified, you will find them in the NFSI database.
The AcroMat 100-1, 100-ESD, 100-Cleanroom, and NitriTuf Diamond Series are all NFSI Certified for "high traction," grading at top end of the "high traction" (0.6+) category.
Related: The Value of NFSI "High Traction" Certification
6. Keep your work area clean
The most obvious and immediate way to limit sliding is making sure your mats and work area remain clean. Laying new mats on areas that are unclean causes them to slide (particle buildup creates a mini-wheel effect) and can lead to mold, mildew, and other bacteria if the mats aren't antimicrobial.
Sawdust, metal shavings, and fiberglass can also erode the bottom surface of your mats, further reducing the non-slip qualities and overall lifespan.
Custom shape, "glove-like fit," and 100% nitrile combine to keep this 100-1 Series anti-fatigue mat firmly in place, with no risk of sliding. Windows manufacturer.
Summary
55% of safety and production leaders say they don't have have a formal anti-fatigue mat inspection process. Without strategic inspection, your facility is likely to be filled with the wrong materials, sizes and shapes – leading to issues like sliding.
Understanding what causes your mats to slide and what you can do to stop it, spend an hour this week walking through your facility and making note of needed changes. Inspection doesn't have to be complex or time-consuming; it just has to be consistent and intentional.
--
Interested in taking this resource with you, printing, or sharing? Access our freely available digital eBook: 6 Ways to Stop Your Anti-Fatigue Mats from Sliding
Put an AcroMat mat to test: Request a free sample.