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How Fatigue Mats Increase Worker Efficiency
The two most important tenants to virtually any employer are safety and efficiency. Using fatigue mats in the workplace is one of the most intuitive methods of improving workplace safety and efficiency that employers can implement. Fatigue matting has a place in practically any work area – commercial or industrial. By helping to relieve the pains brought about by long periods of standing and walking, fatigue mats help to curtail the negative effects these pains have on workplace efficiency.
Most people are familiar with how sore their legs can get even after short periods of time on their feet; now imagine having to do that for hours and days on end? That is the reality of life for many employees in many different types of occupations. This is why both employers and employees both can agree vehemently about the practicability and usefulness of fatigue mats.
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Fatigue Mats
The link between employee comfort and productivity is well-established, especially in regards to fatigue mats specifically. If this sounds unlikely, consider the 2012 study from England’s Loughborough University. Two professors organized a test group of 14 workers to arrive at the laboratory at the same time every day. They then took turns standing –for 90 minutes at a time over 5 days- on both plain concrete floors and floors with fatigue matting. The researchers then utilized a variety of methods (including infra-red cameras and body temperature readings) to determine that, in the end, standing for just the 90-minute periods on plain concrete led to demonstrable amounts of pain and discomfort in the test subjects.
To conclude, the professors observed that “statistically significant benefits were noted when subjects stood on anti-fatigue mats.” Indeed, this pain wasn’t only localized to the feet and legs; the researches also witnessed increased levels of pain in the back and necks of the test subjects when standing on concrete, as well. Furthermore, they also went on to state that standing or working on your feet for period of longer than 90 minutes (without any type of fatigue mat) can potentially lead to serious or even irreversible circulatory problems. Need there be any more convincing of the usefulness and importance of fatigue mats?
As observed in the study, fatigue mats are crucial to diminishing the aches and pains employees often experience in the course of busy day. Whether this pain manifest in the joints, feet, or legs, it is critical to realize that any pain can be seriously debilitating. That’s why it is important for employers to take steps to keep their employees happy and healthy.
By increasing the comfort (and short and long term health) of your employees, you will be not only contributing to their overall welfare, but also to the productivity of your company. An employee is only as good as their health and happiness. The implementation of fatigue mats is one way in which this health and happiness can be retained. When combined with regular breaks and a positive work environment, a fatigue mat can go a long way in securing the overall productivity of your workplace, while doubly functioning to protect your employees.
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