What are Swarf Mats?
Swarf Mats are a type of industrial floor matting designed to capture debris from machining and production processes whilst providing a safe and comfortable working area for the user.
Many different matting products are available on the market, which can be used for many different purposes or in different environments. Swarf Mats, on the other hand, exist for a very specific reason.
Swarf is the debris that is produced from a machining or finishing process. In a workshop, for example, lathes will spin metal into the correct shape creating lots of tiny flakes of metal that are flung in several directions, including the floor.
The purpose of the Swarf Mat is to create a safe, comfortable standing area for an operative working in this kind of environment. The Mat helps collect any swarf and debris; without it, the worker would be standing on a slippery and very uncomfortable surface. Liquids such as machining suds would also be free to spread across the floor, creating a risk to more workers throughout the day.
How do Swarf Mats work?
Several Swarf Mats exist, which have been designed differently, depending on the working environment.
Scraper Swarf Mat - Kitchens and Restaurants
In a commercial kitchen, cleanliness requirements are stringent, and all precautions are taken to keep an area clean and free of contamination. One of the areas that are often overlooked is the floor. Food products can fall onto the floor during processing, creating a slip hazard if they become attached to the soles of workers’ footwear and spreading bacteria from room to room.
The Assured Scraper kitchen mat removes food debris using a dense raised pattern of circles with their own raised rubber fingers, which effectively scrapes the debris from the soles of footwear.
The Assured Scraper is made from a solid rubber that reduces fatigue and offers excellent slip and wear resistance. It is made from 100% Nitrile Rubber, making it suitable for areas with Oil, Grease and Water.
View Product - https://www.firstmats.co.uk/products/assured-scraper-kitchen-swarf-mat-anti-fatigue-mat
Catcher Swarf Mat - Workshops and Factories
Another type of Swarf Mat, commonly seen in workshops, is the Swarf Catcher. This mat features a pattern of holes designed to capture the swarf and contain it within a small area. Metallic Swarf is a regular occurrence in any area operating drills, lathes and other machines.
The holes allow the finer flakes of metallic swarf to fall into the small wells created by the holes whilst helping to capture larger pieces from an operative’s footwear. This type of mat also helps to contain the suds and other machining fluids within the mat area, reducing the slip hazard significantly.
The Swarf Catcher, made from hardwearing NBR rubber, offers a very good balance of Anti-Fatigue, Anti-Slip and wear resistance properties.
View Product - https://www.firstmats.co.uk/products/swarf-catch-swarf-mat-anti-slip-mat
Tacky Swarf Mats - Hospitals and Clean Rooms
Swarf isn’t only the result of a production process; it can be any unwanted loose particle. In a hospital or clean area environment, where cleanliness is critical, the associated swarf tends to be much smaller particles like dust, dirt and other elements you’d expect to find on the soles of shoes.
A traditional rubber Swarf Mat won't solve the problem as particles caught by a mat from one person could be picked up again by another. The solution is to use a tacky mat featuring a sticky surface to pick up the small dirt particles.
The mats contain several sheets that can be peeled off and replaced when well-covered.
View Product - https://www.firstmats.co.uk/products/tacky-step-mat
How much do Swarf Mats Cost?
The price of a Swarf Mat can vary greatly, ranging from £24.50 to £209.00 in the First Mats range, but check the suitability rather than just opting for the lowest cost option as mats are made from different material grades to make them suitable for different environments.
Either way, the cost of a Swarf Mat is insignificant compared with the losses that could be incurred following a slip injury. Protecting your workforce also protects your business, so investing in a swarf mat is highly recommended.
Examples of Swarf Mat Use
Swarf Mats are used in several different environments, these include;
- Workshops - To catch machine swarf
- Kitchens - Food production swarf
- Hospitals - Dirt swarf from feet and wheels
- Laboratories - To capture swarf from cleanliness-sensitive areas
- Restaurants - To catch food spillages before entering the dining areas
- Garages - A Swarf Mat can isolate dirt, oil and other debris
- Factories - Anywhere with a production process resulting in loose debris
For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Author:
Richard O'Connor is a Director at First Mats. He has deep knowledge in areas like Manufacturing, Warehousing, Marine, and Health & Safety. Richard's insights have been featured in well-known publications such as Bloomberg Business, The Sun, and Reader's Digest. His blend of industry expertise and passion for sharing makes him a sought-after voice in his fields.