Home > Rubber Flooring Information > Rubber Flooring Questions > Is it in Cal/Osha that we have rubber floor mats on the concrete where we stand all day long.?

Is it in Cal/Osha that we have rubber floor mats on the concrete where we stand all day long.?

I work at a deli style shop where all day long we are running the same line on the concrete floor. I want to know if it is OSHA rules to have a mat down on the floor.

Public Comments

  1. I dont think its mandated unless you dont get a break. and maybe if your hurt or have a medical condition, but they can get away with being cheap. but dont take my word for it, im just an idiot on yahoo answers, lol.
  2. I think you run on concrete because your boss is unaware of the effect of fatigue on his bottom line.
  3. Not an OSHA rule, but it would be wise for your employer to do so for several reasons: First, for safety. Rubber mats prevent slipping in food preparation areas. All it takes is one slip and your employer has to pay a huge workers' compensation claim. Second, to prevent stress injuries in all employees. Again, if your employer doesn't place a mat on the floor, and an employee gets a repetitive strain or ligament injury (similar to carpal tunnel syndrome but for the hips, knees, feet or ankles) then your employer is facing workers comp claims. You should definitely request that your employer put a rubber or cloth mat on the ground. It never hurts to ask. If your employer refuses - then for the sake of your health - ask your co-workers to chip in and get one yourselves (ask your employer if this is okay before you do it - AND ask your employer to give you a catalog to order it out of so that you get one that is correct for the food preparation area). If your employer refuses, get another job :)
  4. If the floor tend to be wet, a mat could be used by the employer to meet OSHA's Walking/Working surfaces rule which requires the floor to be kept reasonably dry or non-slip surfaces to be used. Primarily, rubber mats are an ergonomic issue. There are no OSHA rules directly requiring ergonomic products or work methods in the work place. Ergonomic injuries top the worker's comp lists, however, and smart employers figure out how to limit ergo injuries. Your best method to get mats is to convince the employer that a rubber mat will prevent injury, thus saving the company money through higher worker's comp insurance rates and employee turnover. Also mention that the mats could be purchased from a used restaurant supply store...much cheaper!