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May/June 2023 issue

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Social Distancing Floor Mats Help Reopening Businesses Protect Employees

Sponsored content
Open-access content Wednesday 20th May 2020
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 3 years old.

SMD web

UK businesses are reopening and suddenly discovering that social distancing can be a challenge. Floor mats are a simple visual reminder that can be deployed easily without the mess of stickers. 

COBA Europe is most well known for its floor level safety products and in particular its extensive range of anti fatigue mats, used in many businesses to provide workers with comfort and relief from standing in static positions. It is also a large provider of various entrance mats and matting systems featured in facilities across the UK and Europe. When the Coronavirus pandemic resulted in the UK being effectively ‘locked down’, COBA Europe was forced to close temporarily and furlough some staff. However, it wasn’t long before the business reopened to serve customers in key sectors, and a new solution was conceived based on an existing floor mat product to help businesses communicate social distancing to staff and customers alike. 

Social Distancing Floor Mats are a highly effective way to remind visitors to maintain the government recommended 2m distance between themselves and others. A key benefit of the mats over the commonplace vinyl stickers is that they can be relocated, stored away and can even be washed. And at just 6mm high they don’t present a trip hazard and are flexible and light enough to transport and deploy with ease.

COVID-19 is presenting all businesses with numerous challenges and many are seeking novel ways of ensuring health and safety in the ‘new normal’. Not only is it important to keep employees and contractors as safe as possible, but also customers and visitors, who may have limited knowledge of the site and its rules and processes. PPE is an important physical barrier to the virus but strong visual reminders, in hard to miss places, are being shown to have a positive impact on how people behave and how safe they feel.

“We are extremely pleased to be playing an active role in supporting businesses through this difficult time. The introduction of these mats has brought a renewed purpose and focus for those staff still working, albeit mostly now from home. Having the mats featured on the BBC has been a career highlight and we have experienced unprecedented demand for this product in recent weeks.” Chris Stanley, Group Commercial Director EMEA

Watch COBA’s social distancing floor mats featured on BBC East Midlands Today here.

The mats are currently available in two standard designs and two colour variations; a general reminder of the 2m rule in blue or red, and a second design featuring footprints, which is ideal for reception counters or supermarket checkouts, again available in blue or red. The mats themselves are 0.65m wide and 2m long, which is a simple way of demonstrating the required spacing. When ordering larger quantities, it is possible to produce mats with bespoke designs and dimensions, allowing for company branded mats. COBA even has the facility to support with graphic design and artwork creation as required.

Social Distancing Floor Mats are available now so click here to find out more. 
 

This content is paid for and not an endorsement from IOSH or IOSH magazine.

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