Fight Costs While You Fight Fatigue

Anti-fatigue matting is the most overlooked and underestimated health and safety solution. Although matting and flooring isn’t mandated by OSHA like PPE, it doesn’t make the need for it any less critical. In fact, the one thing that all employees encounter on a continual basis is the floor.

No one is immune to the damaging effects of standing on hard surfaces. Across all industries - manufacturing, food processing, shipping, and handling and others- employees suffer the effects. Even remote employees using standing desks aren’t exempt. Anti-fatigue mats and flooring are designed to overcome the aches and pains by improving circulation and reducing the pressure on joints, muscles, and spine that lead to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).

Study after study proves the health, productivity, and performance benefits.

What Are Anti-Fatigue Mats?

Anti-fatigue mats go by many names – workstation mats, cashier mats, standing pads, workstation mats, ergonomic mats, sit-stand mats – just to name a few. Regardless of the term, all share a common purpose - to mitigate the negative effects of working on hard, unforgiving surfaces like concrete and tiled floors.

Do They Work?

Have you ever stood for a while and found yourself shifting your weight from one foot to the other? Subconsciously your body is attempting to relieve your discomfort. Why? Standing on hard surfaces causes a static posture that doesn’t engage the muscle movement necessary for circulation. This leads to common complaints like aching, swollen legs, and feet. Walking on hard surfaces also puts significant strain on joints and the lower back. Upon contact with a hard surface, heel strike sends a shock wave through the skeletal system. Overtime, these effects can evolve into debilitating MSD’s.

Countless studies support the benefits of anti-fatigue matting. A study performed by Mark Redfern at the Ford Motor Company showed a 50% increase in circulation simply from the use of anti-fatigue mats. When it comes to the stresses on the skeletal system, a study by the University of Loughborough found a 35% reduction of heel strike with matting versus insoles or shoes alone.

The best anti-fatigue mats provide the right amount of support – too soft and it’s unstable and actually causes more fatigue as the body works to keep its balance. If the mat is too hard, any ergonomic benefits are lost.

MATSonline sells Wearwell’s full line of anti-fatigue matting and flooring that all fall within the ideal range – not too soft and not too hard.

How Does Anti-Fatigue Matting Save Companies Money?

Anti-fatigue matting makes for healthier employees and a healthier bottom line.

As explained, long-term standing on hard, unforgiving floors can cause a host of problems including joint pain, back pain, muscle weakness and foot pain. MSD’s can be debilitating for the employee and costly for their employer. Both the direct and indirect costs are staggering.

The Direct Costs

Worker’s Compensation Claims

Worker’s Compensation is a well-recognized hard cost of any workplace injury. According to the CDC, U.S. companies spend 50 billion dollars on direct costs of MSD’s in just one year.

Anti-fatigue matting is often an unrecognized means to prevent injury and subsequent Worker’s Comp Claims that derive from performing a job on hard surfaces. By implementing a matting program, employers can mitigate an average of $15,000 cost per claim (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) and the rise in premiums.

The Indirect Costs

OSHA reports that a company’s indirect costs for MSDs can be up to five times the direct costs.

Absenteeism

Pain during work often leads to a day of recovery. When employees are in pain, they’re far more likely to call in sick the next day. Naturally, absenteeism is prolonged when medical care is required. According to NSC, over 247,000 MSD injuries required days away from work with the median missed days of 14 days.

Poor ergonomics can cause absenteeism to soar, as well as many of the hidden costs associated with absenteeism. The goal of any company is to send employees home every day as healthy as they came to work.

Rise In Productivity

Discomfort and fatigue cause distraction. Anti-fatigue mats provide the relief employees need to focus on the job at hand.

It may be time to take a closer look at your productivity numbers to see if worker output is increasing or decreasing over time. One helpful tip- take an anonymous poll of your workforce to see how severe their aches and pains are. Companies who have implemented a matting program cite a rise in productivity as a result of anti-fatigue flooring. OSHA states that, “When used properly, anti-fatigue matting provides an overall healthier work environment, fostering enhanced worker productivity.”

The cost is real. Fatigue is estimated to cost companies $136 billion annually in productivity loss. An independent study shows a 22% increase in productivity following the installation of matting. That's an extra 45 days of productivity per employee!

Morale

How employees feel about working for a company significantly impacts their behavior. Dissatisfied employees seek other opportunities, hamper recruitment, and, at a minimum, an employee isn’t compelled to put in the extra effort for their employer. One poll found that 69% of employees say they would work harder if they felt more appreciated.

In today’s job market, companies must compete to acquire and retain employees. According to Forbes, the median cost of employee turnover is 21% of their annual salary. Every effort to avoid turnover matters.

Gallup research has consistently shown that providing employees with the tools they need improves morale by showing employer commitment. An investment in anti-fatigue workstation mats and ergonomic flooring shows your commitment to employees’ health, well-being, and job satisfaction.

Buyer Beware

Shopping anti-fatigue mats online, is overwhelming. While some anti-fatigue mats may look the same, they’re not at all created equal. Diamond-Plate is an excellent example. Wearwell was the first to introduce diamond-plate matting in 1985 and its popularity soared! Other manufactures looking to capitalize on consumer demand, followed suit but using low quality materials and poor craftsmanship. The same can be said of marbleized/tile-top matting. There’s Wearwell’s and then there’s the other guys.

Do your homework and choose a well-respected brand like Wearwell and purchase them through a reputable online store like MATSonline. MATSonline is the only online store that sells Wearwell’s full line of innovative ergonomic matting and flooring products that out-perform and outlast all others.

Support USA made products. Buy with confidence. Shop MATSonline for fast, free shipping and unmatched customer support!

If you have any questions at all or need help selecting just the right matting for your workplace, call us at 888-500-6820 or contact us on online.

Editor's Note: Edited and reposted from the Wearwell Surface Matters blog. https://www.wearwell.com/blog/post/the-what-how-and-where-of-anti-fatigue-mats