Why You Need Anti-Fatigue Mats
Numerous health experts have emphasized on the health risks that come with long hours of sitting at work, but not many talk about the health hazards that come from spending long hours on your feet. Most of us just take it as if it were completely normal for workers to spend majority of their 8-hour shifts on their feet; but there is nothing normal or healthy about the physical consequences of this.
In fact, in the US alone, over 1.5 million sick days per year are taken off the general labor force because of lower limb pains associated with prolonged standing. That’s 2 million sick days off of your productivity calendar too, so it’s as bad for their health as it is for your business.
The Health Risks
There are so many kinds of jobs that require standing for hours on end at work – from restaurant kitchens to surgery rooms to manufacturing companies. These workers face the following health hazards:
- Bunions
- Corns
- Pains in the feet and legs
- Varicose veins
- Swelling in feet
- Poor blood circulation
- Develop flat feet
- Plantar fasciitis and other heel problems
- Achilles tendonitis
- Lower back pain
- Knee pains
- Arthritis
- Stiffness of the neck and back
The Solution
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a couple of recommendations on how to effectively make your workplace safe and conducive for your employees, despite their jobs requiring them to stand on their feet for long hours. This article from the OSHA suggests two ways to achieve this:
- Foot rests or foot stools. This allows the workers to rest their feet one at a time to reduce the stress and fatigue;
- Anti-fatigue mats. These are specialized ergonomic mats that have long been suggested by labor code standards. Compared to foot rests, the coverage is bigger and is more space-efficient compared to foot stools.
How Anti-Fatigue Mats Work
Anti-fatigue mats, as the name suggests, are designed to reduce the impact of the floor on the feet and the rest of the lower limbs by encouraging to feet to do micro-movements. These small movements help distribute the weight evenly on the feet and therefore reduce the ‘fatigue’ and strain on the lower limbs and lower back. These micro movements also promote better circulation as well.
The best part about anti-fatigue mats rests mainly on the fact that you can have better, bigger coverage on your floors and benefit multiple workers at once as opposed to buying individual foot stools or special ergonomic shoes.
Want to learn more about workplace safety? We have more here! Drop by the blog to learn more about making your place of business safe for you, your clients, and your employees!
Learn more about anti-fatigue mats too and how you can own one specifically made for you by contacting Garden State Mat Rental! Visit https://gardenstatemat.net/ or call 800-486-1581 for free mat safety inspection.
