Anti Fatigue Mats

While talking with some “old-timers” not too long ago, I noticed some of them still hold to some long-held beliefs that just because they did things a certain way, “back in the old days” their way was better.  I also noticed a few of them of scoffed at some of our modern technologies and advances, such as rolled rubber flooring or anti-fatigue mats.  But I tell you what: just have any such skeptic stand on some durable, stress-relieving anti-fatigue mats for very long, and they’ll be singing the praises themselves!

I wear some high-dollar, specially designed shoes that help with nerve pain associated with a back injury, and I can tell you,  “feeling was believing” in my case. I dare say the same will hold true for anyone you might know who might ordinarily jeer at something they [ignorantly] perceive to be silly or nonsensical.  The truth is today’s mindset of preserving our bodies with protective gear, such as spinal supportive shoes or anti-fatigue mats, is not only smart….but also wise.

In the May 24, 2010 Federal Register, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its plans for required workplace improvements.  The notice of proposed rulemaking stated that it plans to require improved worker protection from tripping, slipping, and falling hazards on walking and working surfaces.

OSHA chief Dr. David Michaels said, “This proposal addresses workplace hazards that are a leading cause of work related injuries and deaths.

Among other things, the new proposal requires that floors of workrooms be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition. Additionally, it requires that, where wet processes are used, drainage be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry-standing places be provided when practicable. OSHA said it does not expect all surfaces to be maintained in a pristine manner, however, surfaces must be maintained in a condition that will prevent slips, trips, falls, and other hazards.  Many commercial and industrial mats have been designed specifically to address these concerns and provide an inexpensive way to bring comfort and safety into the workplace.

Can you name the obvious benefits of anti-fatigue mats? Just thinking about the name, “anti-fatigue mats” makes that easy:

• Reduced foot pain while standing.
• Reduced joint [ankles, knees, hips, and back] from standing and walking on hard surfaces, such as concrete.
• Reduced injuries during falls on otherwise hard floors.
• Improved performance among workers due to less pain and stress.

Those are the benefits that most commonly come to mind when we think about benefits of anti-fatigue mats, but what do you think some other benefits might be, but not necessarily for people? Studies have shown one of the most touted benefits are reduced breakage of breakable items dropped onto the softer, absorbing surface of most anti-fatigue mats; and that just makes sense.

In fact, one national restaurant chain stated the use of anti-fatigue mats in their back preparation area and dishwashing area reduced glass breakage by 24%!   There are numerous others, but if you’re a business owner and this has been an issue or point of revenue loss, 24% is nothing to sneeze at!

I don’t work in an office where “business attire” would require me to wear hard-soled shoes, and so I have less of a need, at my home office, for anti-fatigue mats than, say, when I worked part-time at a printing facility that housed enormous printers.  We had to stay on our feet for hours, and I can tell you; we had anti-fatigue mats around the printers, and so I have experienced, first hand, how much easier on the feet, lower back, and joints it is to walk and stand on industrial anti-fatigue mats; the company even had “lighter”, non-slip mats in the break rooms and other areas.

Heck, they even had mats in the restrooms to prevent slippage due to water on the floors!  I can only imagine how much more relieving such mats would be to someone who has to stand in a very small area day in and day out, like a cashier, or someone who works behind a bar or concession stand.  My hat comes off for the person(s) who invented anti-fatigue mats.  Bravo!

I was talking to a teenager the other day that happens to work at a local amusement park, and he told me his legs were tired from standing all day.  I asked him if there weren’t anti-fatigue mats where he stood all day, and he replied, “Anti-what?” I proceeded to explain to him briefly the benefits of using anti-fatigue and other non-slip mats, all of which are expressly made to cut down on the effects of gravity to the lower back and legs, especially the ankles and knees.

I told this young man to go to his general manager and ask why they don’t provide anti-fatigue mats for every station, for every employee required to be in one spot for hours on end.  I told him he could “sell” the idea by saying the park could probably reduce its insurance premiums by reducing the potential hazards in the event of falls, as well as improve employee morale and performance by keeping everyone feeling better.  I think sometimes, we adults tend to think such benefits would only apply to us, but…kids are affected by gravity, too!

Perhaps among all of the anti-fatigue mats there are, industrial and commercial use anti-fatigue mats are the most sought after and most purchased; and that only stands to reason—you don’t get much opportunity to lounge on a couch, on the job, like at home, so there’s not any demand for anti-fatigue mats for home use. For the industrial setting, where there’s water, chemicals, grease, etc, there are many, super tough mats that are also safety anti-fatigue mats.

And anti-fatigue mats doesn’t only include thick, heavy-duty rubber mats that look like they belong in an auto garage—even though those are in plentiful supply. For the office space, for instance, there are very attractive, marbleized, runner-type mats that are smooth, lightweight, and perfect for those who are on their feet all day, say, like behind a concessions stand, or in a bank, to absorb the effects of gravity on the body.

We don’t have the time, here, nor the space to go into all the benefits of anti-fatigue mats, but there are a number [of benefits] that should be obvious to even the uneducated person, or anyone who has ever stood on a hard surface for very long, or someone who has slipped on a hard surface and has gotten injured! Anti-fatigue mats come in many varieties and not all are intended for wet environments.

And isn’t that wonderful?

There are, of course, super tough anti-fatigue mats that are designed for industrial settings, and then there are those intended for office spaces that are dry and where women in heels or women and men in flat, hard-soled shoes tread, but where a hard, tiled floor can take it’s toll on feet that must be dressed professionally. Whatever the case, there are anti-fatigue mats to satisfy everyone.

Anti-fatigue mats like the one pictured here—The Invigorator—aren’t your ordinary door mats just made longer. If you’re new to the concept of anti-fatigue mats, you’re in for a nice surprise; especially if you work a job that requires you to be on your feet for hours on end, and you often [always] end up with sore, tired feet, joints, and back.

Unlike regular rubber mats, floor mats, or welcome mats, anti-fatigue mats—made in varying designs and alternate functions, such as non-slip or anti-static mats—are manufactured with the effects of gravity on the human body in mind. When you stand in one place, or work within a confined space, with hard floors, especially concrete, the stress and strain of your body weight begins to take its toll on your lower back, knees, ankles, and of course your feet.

Anti-fatigue mats are made to absorb body weight into the foam, thus providing a buffer against the hardness of the floor; less pain, reduced fatigue, and improved performance are the result.

Ask anyone who’s had to change a flat tire on the side of the road, with stones and glass to kneel on how much they could have used a handy kneeling pad; they’ll probably say, “I sure wish I had one in my trunk!” Even just a single square of interlocking foam tiles would do the trick to protect your knees!

Ladies, have you ever had to change a flat tire yourself and ended up with a runner in your stocking from kneeling on the ground?  Men know what it’s like to have to kneel on the driveway—or even in spilled oil or mud—and mess up their best pair of jeans or slacks.  The point is, sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you could really use a decent anti-fatigue mat to protect your knees, feet, or even your shoulder if the situation necessitates lying on the ground to reach up under a tight spot.

Aren’t your joints worth the fifteen to twenty bucks?  Once you’ve got the kneeling pad, people will see just how wise—and prepared—you are.

Shouldn’t all anti-fatigue mats be safety anti-fatigue mats as well?  One would think so, but…alas…not all mats designated as anti-fatigue mats are also identified—necessarily—as safety anti fatigue mats.  But no matter with such technical definitions, most anti-fatigue mats, whether commercial or industrial, tend to be inherently safe, anyway.

How so?  You ask?  Just think about it.  Many anti-fatigue mats either channel away fluids or chemicals, prevent static discharges, won’t catch on fire, or have a slip-proof surface texture designed to add a measure of improved safety!   Just about the only anti-fatigue mats with a smooth surface are rubber, marbleized anti-fatigue mats, which have a smooth surface that would become slippery when wet, but these are atypical, compared to most other anti-fatigue mats.