Safety Mats: THE Choice for Total Safety AND Productivity

In any successful business, the bottom line is very important. That's no different in the industrial world, where managing costs and maximizing productivity can make or break the bottom line.

That's why providing safety is so important. Businesses can't afford not to provide workers with a safe work environment. In addition, no amount of money can replace a lost limb or a life.

On the other hand, sometimes safety measures can actually hamper productivity, making it difficult for workers to complete their jobs efficiently. So, often times businesses find themselves in a sticky situation…provide too little safety to maximize productivity and you can negatively affect the bottom line, provide too much safety and productivity dives. It's a "no win" situation, right?

WRONG!

Safety mats are among the only safety devices that can actually provide a total safety solution in many applications where optical based technology has difficulty while helping workers maintain a high level of productivity. The inherent design and function of safety mats can make them better solutions in a variety of environments. Plus, in certain applications, they can actually enhance productivity.

Safety mats have been used successfully in industrial applications for many decades because of their reliability, maintenance-free designs and relatively low-cost when compared to other safeguarding alternatives. They continue to be used in such industries as automotive, woodworking, and metal forming, and mats have been recognized as a safety device by such organizations as OSHA.

1. Quality safety mats are designed to function without nuisance shutdowns in a variety of industrial environments.

While not all safety mats are created alike, most safety mats are designed to withstand a variety of conditions that light curtains, area scanners and many other safety devices cannot. For example, most safety mats are unaffected by dusty or dirty environments, such as areas where saw dust or other particles may be flying around in the air or landing on the floor. In addition, some mats can withstand a small amount of water. Larco mats, for example, are designed to be totally submersible in water, which makes them perfect for applications, such as water jet cutting machines, where light curtains just cannot function with success.

Because mats are designed to withstand these tough environments, they will cause less frequent nuisance shut downs. Less time with your machines shut down because of a safety device means more productive time with them working.

2. Mats are a more durable solution in many environments. Larco mats, for example, are designed for total dependability and durability. Designed to last through more than 10,000,000 activations, Larco mats can take up to 3,000 psi and are durable enough to withstand frequent forklift or other vehicle traffic. In addition, Larco mats come with a 4 year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Because they are so durable, mats will many times last longer than other safety devices. In fact, it's not unusual for a Larco mat to last up to 10 years in a typical industrial environment. That means that you won't spend precious time replacing or maintaining worn out safety devices.

3. In certain applications mats can work with machinery and processes to provide maximum productivity. For example, mats can be used in near-continuous moving production lines involving manual placement or nesting of parts in metal fabrication fixtures prior to clamping and welding operations.

Here's how it can work: one operator may work two or three adjacent workstations that incorporate a safety mat system to prevent cycling the machine tool. After the operator nests the parts, he or she will then step off the safety mat and press a secondary run switch to initiate machine tool cycling at the station. The operator can then proceed to the next work platform to perform similar duties. This system allows operators to execute other processes or rearm themselves with other components to accelerate work flow. The bottom line is that mats used in this way can increase productivity and safety. For further illustration of this concept, see the drawing below.

As you can see, unlike other safety devices, mats can help you maximize safety and productivity at the same time, which can, in turn, create a healthy bottom line.

For more information on how mats can be used to maximize productivity in your plant, contact Larco today.