May 3 is Lumpy Rug Day. Some people claim that it got started as a day to tease people who routinely brush unwelcome news or undesirable facts under the rug — thus making it lumpy. Others say it’s about addressing the need to fix a common hazard. The first explanation is a bit more fun, but we safety folk are more prone to take action on the latter.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, slips, trips and falls to the same level are the most common work-related injury. Mats that buckle, curl or for whatever other reason don’t lie flat can contribute to slip, trip and fall incidents.
Take a walk around your facility today and look for the following:
- Entrance mats with frayed or curled edges
- Mat runners with buckles or any other imperfections that prevent them from lying completely flat
- Cardboard being used to absorb water or other fluids on a floor
- Rubber-backed mats stacked on top of each other
- Any matting that does not have beveled edges
It only takes a minute to straighten a mat or replace one that no longer does the job. It’s also the perfect time to take a look at other slip hazards around your facility and add any problem areas to your “to-do” list.
You tell us: Do you have “lumpy rugs” in your facility? What have you done, or are you going to do, to fix them? Let us know in the comments section below!
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