In our latest guide, we discuss the role that effective retail entrance matting plays in maintaining safe practices.
Retail facilities managers have a legal obligation to create and provide a safe, from busy high street stores to large shopping centres. As entrances are one of the highest-risk areas for slips, trips, and falls, the right entrance matting is critical for reducing risk and therefore supporting compliance.
UK retail health & safety obligations and duty of care – the legalities
Key UK laws governing the duty of care within a retail setting are:
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – this outlines what employers must do to protect workers and others from harm.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – emphasises that retailers have a clear duty of care to ensure the welfare of employees and visitors.
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 – this makes those who control premises responsible for visitors’ safety, and focuses on steps that are deemed reasonable.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires employers to carry out risk assessments on common hazards like slips, and put appropriate control measures in place – this is particularly relevant in the retail environment which sees variable conditions and high footfall.
Failure to comply can result in enforcement action, fines, reputational damage, and costly personal injury claims. For facilities managers, compliance starts at the entrance.
Trip risks and slip hazards in retail environments
For retail facilities managers, customer safety is the most visible duty of care. Slips and trips are the single most common cause of non-fatal injuries in retail.
Entrances are particularly susceptible to:
• Wet conditions from rain and snow
• External dirt and debris
• Variances in flooring surfaces
• Poorly maintained or unsecured mats
• High foot traffic creating contamination build-up
Without effective controls, entrances quickly become a point of failure in a retailer’s health and safety strategy.
How entrance matting supports HSE compliance
Entrance matting is one of the most effective first-line controls for managing slip risk. Correctly specified systems support retailers to:
• Reduce contamination by removing moisture and dirt before it reaches internal flooring
• Improve slip resistance, by providing a safer walking surface during wet conditions
• Support risk assessments through proactive hazard control measures
• Minimise cleaning hazards, with the reduced need for frequent wet floor cleaning near entrances
Retail facilities managers must prevent contamination rather than just reacting to it. The use of effective, quality entrance matting systems therefore directly supports this preventative approach.
Key features of effective entrance matting systems
There are several features that facilities managers should consider in order to genuinely support compliance:
1. Sufficient coverage and zoning - matting should extend far enough into the building to effectively remove moisture from footwear. Best practice is a multi-zone system (external scraper, internal absorber) to maximise performance, (see What is zonal entrance matting? Benefits, features, and why it’s essential for building safety for more on this).
2. Correct placement - matting must be positioned at the primary entrance route, starting at the threshold so all foot traffic passes over it.
3. Slip resistance and durability - high-performance materials such as natural and recycled rubber, offer a hardwearing and anti-slip solution that is essential to maintain grip in wet conditions.
4. Recessed installation - poorly fitted mats can become trip hazards themselves. Recessed systems eliminate movement and raised edges, and are secure, flush, and stable.
5. Drainage and moisture management - an effective entrance matting system will either absorb or channel water away, preventing saturation and maintaining performance. Ideally, the matting should form a barrier that extends far enough to remove moisture effectively.
Why entrance matting is critical for retail safety compliance
Entrance matting is a core safety control measure, without which retailers are far more exposed to:
• Increased slip incidents during wet weather
• Rapid contamination of internal floors
• Greater reliance on reactive cleaning (and associated risks)
• Higher likelihood of non-compliance with HSE expectations
In practical terms, retail entrance matting bridges the gap between external environmental risks and internal safety standards. It is one of the simplest yet most impactful investments a facilities manager can make.
Cost vs risk: the business case for commercial entrance mats
While entrance matting can often be viewed as a minor line item, not investing in it can have serious and significant consequences, including:
• Legal claims and costs
• Increased insurance premiums
• Employee absence due to injury
• Damage to the company’s reputation and a lack of customer trust
High-quality commercial entrance mats offer a strong ROI by reducing incidents, lowering maintenance costs, and demonstrating due diligence in safety management.
Best practices for retail entrance matting systems
To maximise safety and compliance, retailers should:
• Install a zoned entrance matting system tailored to footfall and environment
• Ensure proper installation and maintenance to avoid trip hazards
• Integrate matting into cleaning schedules, ensuring it is regularly cleaned and maintained
• Conduct regular risk assessments focused on entrance areas and monitor performance, checking for wet footprints beyond the matting area
A proactive, well-managed approach meets all HSE expectations and will significantly reduce the likelihood of incidents.
Retail entrance matting systems from EMS Ltd.
The EMS Colortread Entrance Matting System – the EMS Colortread Entrance Matting System, coupled with textile infills, is a high performance system perfect for primary internal zones. When installed with rubber infills (CT005), it removes dirt and debris before they can be transferred into the premises.
The EMS Evergreen Debris Channel Barrier Entrance Matting System – ideal for areas with heavier debris, the EMS Evergreen Debris Channel Barrier Entrance Matting System is suitable for primary or secondary matting and can be recessed or surface mounted. Thanks to an innovative, robust open channel design, Evergreen Debris is more effective at removing foot borne dirt than any system on the market. It can be used with a wide choice of infill materials, some manufactured from durable rubber (the DC005 infill) which offers a ribbed, non-slip surface perfect for heavy footfall areas.
The EMS installation service
To genuinely support compliance, commercial entrance mats must be designed and installed correctly. At EMS Ltd., our comprehensive installation service, available Europe-wide and carried out by qualified experts, will ensure complete compliance. Our recessed systems remain secure and flush with no raised edges which, in themselves, could represent a trip hazard.
Contact us
To find out more about our retail entrance matting, and how it can support your health & safety compliance, get in touch today. The team can be reached by email at info@entrance-matting.com or by telephone on 01205 761757.
