Eco-Friendly Floor—10 Reasons to Use Them in Your Construction Site
Regardless of the size of the construction there is always going to be a certain amount of inherent risk due to the nature of the activities. And really, no matter how prudent you are or how many steps you take to avoid accidents—they will always be a possibility. Construction could potentially damage property, expensive tools or equipment, and worse of all—people could suffer serious injuries. However, just because the danger cannot be completely avoided, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take careful steps to minimize that risk. Making sure that employees are properly trained is a great way to combat accidents. As well as providing the safest possible work environment, such as a space that consists of up to date and fully functional equipment as well as a secure surfacing that will provide traction and grip in dry or wet conditions. Recycled rubber flooring is an excellent safety solution while also bringing to the table quite a few other great advantages. And if you think that an eco-friendly floor is going to be too expensive—don’t worry! Recycled rubber tiles and Green floor mats are affordable because they are produced from a recycled source, which means that savings get passed down directly to consumers.
But if you’re still not quite convinced—check out these 10 reasons why you should use eco-friendly floor for all of your construction needs!
- Slip Resistance
According to Exponent.com, “In the United States there are about 1200 fatalities per year on construction sites (4 per 10,000 workers). Approximately one third of those are related to falling hazards.” Now, although these falls tend to happen from higher levels, that’s not to say that slip and fall accidents don’t also affect that number. Rubber has a natural high coefficient of friction, which paired with a rich traction designs upon the face of flooring, produces an effective slip resistant surface.
- Fatigue Resistance
An important, but often overlooked factor in accident prevention is employee vigilance. Construction workers have to spend most of their time up on their feet or down on their knees, and that can result in pain and discomfort. Using thick Green floor mats is a great way to ease the tension on feet, ankles, and knees. This is thanks to rubber’s natural elasticity, which provides a more supportive surface than something hard like concrete. With employees having to focus less attention on weary limbs they can be more observant toward potential dangers.
- Resistance to Moisture
In places where timber is being used—moisture can be a huge concern! Due to rubber’s natural resistance to water, elastomer products make a great water proof surface upon which to set materials and expensive tools.
- Equipment and Tool Protection
Rubber surfacing can act as a buffer between a hard subsurface and any fallen tool or piece of equipment. Although this won’t guarantee that the falling object won’t break, it will do a better job of safeguarding that item than say—concrete or asphalt. Rubber is naturally supple and supportive and will more readily give under the weight of fallen items.
- Durability
The main source material in recycled rubber flooring is discarded tires. Automobile tires are made to be strong and to withstand the ever-changing and often abrasive environments of the open road—such as constant exposure to sunlight, excessive moisture, snow, and rough uneven roads. This gives a lot of insight into why products made of this material are perfectly suited for the hard environments of construction sites, where heavy equipment is bound to be dropped and where heavy foot-traffic is to be expected.
- Environmentally Conscious
The use of recycled rubber tiles or any other flooring style is a great way to lead a “greener” life. Although we can’t all combat global warming with as much passion as we’d like—we can all do our part by making small changes to our day to day operations. In the United States alone, approximately 290 million tires are disposed of each year! By utilizing recycled elastomers you are effectively supporting a market that is seeking to renew a product that would otherwise end up in the landfill.
- ReusableProducts like Green floor mats, tiles, and runners are very easy to install and therefore remove. Because of this, these rubberized flooring options can easily
be removed at the end of projects and saved for future endeavors.
- Accommodating Styles
A construction zone can have a difficult surface to cover—there may be corridor like spaces, which are narrow and long, and then there may be wide open areas. Recycled rubber tiles, runners, or mats are an easy fix to any problems that may arise from oddly shaped spaces. Tiles can be used to cover larger and wider areas, while runners can easily be rolled out through narrow passages.
- Ease of Maintenance
Maintaining a clean and uncluttered work environment is an important step toward accident prevention. This might be a little harder to achieve in a construction zone—what with dirt, mud, and debris being readily found almost everywhere! But recycled rubber flooring is easy to look after, requiring little else than a broom to brush away debris and a damp cloth or mop for more thorough cleanings. And with the benefit of using these flooring options in outdoor applications even a hose can be used to do away with dirt and mud.
- Easy to Install
Finally, your eco-friendly floor doesn’t have to be a hassle to install! As we already touched on briefly, rubberized flooring is very easy to install and remove, making it great for reuse. With many options available, such as tile, rolls, or mats—elastomer surfaces are an easy DIY project. And this could potentially save you lots of money on costly professional installations.
