Employees are the foundation of your company’s success. It is critical each of your workers is capable of performing at his or her best at all times. Many companies notice that the longer they require employees to remain on their feet, the faster the productivity of workers begins to decline and the faster injury and absenteeism levels rise.

Companies can easily solve the most common problems associated with standing for extended periods of time by providing employees with quality anti-fatigue floor mats.

Click here to shop our excellent selection of Anti-Fatigue Mats.

What Are the Health Risks of Extended Periods of Standing?

People now understand sitting down for extended periods of time can lead to a number of health issues including Type II diabetics and poor lower body circulation. Simply standing up can help reduce these risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

While standing may reduce the problems caused by too much sitting, standing for long stretches of time can cause its own problems. Some of these problems are much more serious than a little soreness and discomfort A few of the most common and more serious medical issues which may result from long-term standing are:

• Plantar fasciitis (the swelling, weakening, or inflammation of a ligament in the foot)
• Varicose veins
• Tendinitis in the legs or knees
• Knee problems
• Increased risk of arthritis (especially in the hips and knees)
• Spinal problems resulting from poor posture
• Swollen feet, legs, and ankles.

Orthopedic experts agree that using anti-fatigue mats can help to reduce the development of many of these more serious medical conditions. Anti-fatigue mats also help employees feel more energized and less sore at the end of the work day.

How Do Anti-fatigue Mats Work?

The secret behind anti-fatigue mats is in their construction. When a person stands on a mat which is specially designed to reduce fatigue, thousands of embedded tiny springs are compressed. This compression decreases the pressure on a persons feet, legs, and lower body by providing an adequate amount of give and by helping to spread the persons weight more evenly across a larger area of the foot then standing on a solid floor.

Not only is the pressure on a workers body reduced, but the slight instability intentionally built into these mats requires a persons muscles to make automatic micro-adjustments. These unnoticeable, tiny and involuntary movements cause a persons muscles to expand and contract. This constant muscle stimulation increases the blood flow, preventing stiff muscles, fatigue and pain.

How to Choose the Right Anti-fatigue Mats for Your Business

Making the choice to purchase anti-fatigue mats for your employees is a great decision, but before buying any mat it is critical to choose the best one for your companys unique needs. In order to do this, you need to consider where and how your employees work.

There are three main factors to think about before you select anti-fatigue mats for your company. These factors are:

• The type of flooring at your business
• The length of time employees are typically required to be on their feet
• Whether or not your workers remain stationary throughout the day

The general rule is that harder flooring needs thicker anti-fatigue mat in order to compensate. Cement and tile floors often require the thickest possible mats. This does not mean any thick mat is acceptable for your needs. There are other factors you must take into consideration.

In addition to the hardness of your floors, you should examine the conditions of the flooring. For employees who may have to work on wet floors – such as in kitchens and outdoor environments – anti-slip and bacterial resistant mats are necessary.

Don’t think because your floor is carpeted you can forgo anti-fatigue mats altogether. Floors which are too soft can also cause employee fatigue. Soft flooring often requires a thin mat to provide a firmer standing area.

The longer your employees are on their feet, the thicker the anti-fatigue mat should be. Even on softer flooring, an employee who must stand in the same area for an entire 8-hour shift should use a mat of medium thickness at minimum. A thin mat is equally appropriate for use on a cement floor when employees only need to spend a few minutes at a time standing; perhaps while entering shipping information in a warehouse.

Finally, you should consider how often your workers walk while working. The more employees walk, the less they need thicker anti-fatigue mats. Walking allows blood to circulate freely, reducing injuries and fatigue.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking thicker mats are always the best option. Thicker mats are considerably heavier and more likely to cause a tripping hazard than thinner mats. Take your time evaluating the unique needs of your company to avoid selecting a mat which is neither too thick nor too thin.

Why Do Your Employees Need Anti-fatigue Mats?

Every employee who is required to stand at work can benefit from standing on anti-fatigue mats. Almost every business has positions which require extended standing. Restaurants, retail, security, banks, salons and offices can all help their employees feel better and perform more effectively by offering the use of anti-fatigue mats at work.

For the health and safety of all your employees, you should consider all of the benefits which anti-fatigue mats can offer:

• Less injuries
• Reduced absenteeism
• Greater productivity

Besides helping to reducing fatigue, soreness, and serious medical issues, there is one more reason why every standing employee needs to use anti-fatigue mats. The reason is a less obvious result of standing, but one which is as important. Employees will be happier. Happier employees lead to less turnover, fewer complaints, less mistakes, and an overall better workplace. Anti-fatigue mats are not only good for your employees, they’re good for your business too! If you have any further questions, or would like to learn more about specific anti-fatigue mat models please proceed to our Anti-Fatigue Mat overview page.