Advantages of ground protection mats

The use of plastic ground protection mats on various worksites has been increasing for many years, although they are still a novel product for some people. In this article we discuss the advantages of plastic ground protection mats.

What are ground protection mats?

Allowing safe passage for vehicles or pedestrians to traverse soft/difficult terrain or to avoid damage to sensitive ground can be an issue at any worksite. Steel plates have been utilised for this purpose for a long time, but plastic ground protection mats are a specialised mat made precisely for these situations. They are constructed from strong plastic and designed to handle heavy vehicles.

Applications of ground protection mats

Ground protection mats are used in areas such as construction, civil engineering, agriculture, forestry, mining and events. They can be laid down to create temporary roads or work platforms, parking lots or material storage areas.

For examples of ground protection mats in use, please check our gallery page.

🠢 BOGMAT Gallery

Cost reduction

One of the many benefits of using plastic ground protection mats is that they can help to reduce costs. Steel plates are commonly used for ground protection, so we can make a cost comparison between them and plastic ground mats.

The main costs incurred when using steel plates are outlined below.

1. Purchase or rental cost

2. Transportation cost

3. Labour cost

4. Cost of heavy equipment required to move plates

The main savings made by using plastic ground mats are in (2) and (4), which we will discuss further.

Transportation cost

Steel plates

A standard steel plate can weigh as much as 500kg, and larger sizes are even heavier. This means that a large truck is required even to transport a relatively small quantity of steel plates. The heavier weight of the truck and the cargo results in more fuel consumption and possibly multiple trips.

Plastic ground protection mats

In comparison, an equivalent plastic ground mat weighs less than 40kg. It is easier to transport many mats at a time. Furthermore, to transport the same quantity of plastic mats as steel plates does not require as heavy a truck, and results in lower fuel consumption. The cost can therefore be much less.

Cost of heavy equipment

Steel plates

Since each plate weighs several hundred kilograms, they cannot be moved without the assistance of cranes or other heavy machinery. This makes it expensive to lay down and move steel plates, as the cost of purchasing or hiring heavy equipment must be factored in.

Plastic ground protection mats

Plastic ground mats are light enough to be lifted and carried by hand. A standard mat weighs less than 40kg, which is easy for a team of two people to manage. Smaller sizes can even be carried by a single person. There is therefore no need to buy or rent heavy equipment, resulting in a large saving.

Connecting mats together

Steel plates

To connect steel plates together, it is necessary to weld them or use special connecting fittings. Welding steel plates to each other requires welding materials and special tools, which is labour-intensive and time consuming. In addition, the welding marks will remain after the plates have been removed. The special connecting brackets do not require welding, but instead require a wrench or hammer for installation.

Plastic ground protection mats

Specially made connectors are used to join plastic ground mats together. There are various types of connectors, including brackets and pins. They can even be connected together with rope or plastic ties. The main benefit is that plastic mats do not need to be welded, and even when using connectors it takes much less time and effort compared with steel plates.

Example of pin type and bracket type connectors

Improving worksite safety

Steel plates

An unfortunate consequence of the heavy weight of steel plates is that serious accidents can and do occur.

• While hanging from a crane, the steel plate may come off the hook and fall on workers below

• When driven over by a heavy vehicle, the plate may be displaced by a vehicle tyre and land on a worker's foot

• Fingers may be caught between the plate and the crane hook, or between plates

Since steel plates weigh several hundred kilograms each, the risk of life-threatening accidents is high.

Plastic ground protection mats

If plastic ground mats are used instead of steel plates, these types of accidents can be drastically reduced. Of course, safety management is also necessary with plastic mats, but accidents involving cranes and other heavy machinery can be completely eliminated, since plastic mats can be laid by hand.

Upon revewing the advantages of plastic ground protection mats, it is clear why they are now being used on many different worksites.