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Any occupation that requires long standing shifts can take a toll on your body over time. Restaurant workers, including professional chefs, cooks, and bussers unfortunately fall victim to these kinds of health issues quite often. If too much time is spent standing on a rigid surface, a person is likely to experience stress and discomfort in their feet, legs, and lower back. Not only does this cause momentary discomfort, but the repeated stress can cause long-term injury and health defects. Poor posture, joint compression, varicose veins, and cardiovascular disorders are just a few of the health problems that can arise for restaurant workers over time. One way to improve comfort and reduce the possibility for injury is with kitchen anti-fatigue mats. Rubber kitchen mats are a simple solution to fatigue and discomfort in the workplace, and they even provide a few essential safety qualities.
Kitchen anti-fatigue mats are designed with quite a few safety-oriented tricks up their sleeve. The first is the most obvious: anti-fatigue. Rubber chef mats for commercial kitchens are generally made out of either nitrile or natural rubber. Both elastomers are highly resilient and available in soft, flexible durometers that are perfect for kitchen anti-fatigue mats. The soft rubber material flexes beneath weight, providing a sense of comfort and cushioning for whoever stands on its surface. More than just comfortable, the soft rubber of the restaurant mat relieves stress from muscles and joints so chefs can work for longer periods of time without damaging their bodies. Using kitchen anti-fatigue mats can actually enhance comfort to make sure chefs and cooks do not become overworked. The more comfortable the workers are, the happier they will be and the more efficient their work will become.
Kitchen Anti-Fatigue Mats
Kitchen anti-fatigue mats also double as effective non-slip matting. Rubber is unique from other materials because it possesses a naturally high coefficient of friction. Higher friction results in a better grip, giving rubber chef mats an inherent slip-resistance. This is significant because the risk of slipping in a commercial kitchen is incredibly high. Because they are used so consistently, commercial kitchens see more frequent spills than smaller, home kitchens do. At any given time, the floor of a commercial kitchen may be slick with spilled drinks, food debris, or cooking oils—all of which present a major slip-and-fall hazard without non-slip kitchen mats in place. Restaurant workers typically wear slip-resistant shoes, but excessive liquids and grease often prove to be more than a slip-free sole can handle. Kitchen anti-fatigue mats are a quick and simple way to safeguard a slippery surface. The natural grip provided by rubber is perfect for a restaurant mat, as the friction maintains a non-slip surface even in the presence of moisture.
While on the topic of moisture, it is certainly worth noting that kitchen anti-fatigue mats are also very effective drain mats. Without adequate drainage holes, water, grease, and other liquids would simply pool on top of the restaurant mat. Even with rubber’s slip-resistance, stepping into a puddle is still a major hazard that increases the possibility for slips. Drain mats are the perfect solution to wet and slippery kitchen floors because they take excessive moisture out of the equation. There are many different varieties of kitchen anti-fatigue mats, but all feature some sort of drainage holes. Spilled liquids naturally pass through these drainage holes and down to the floor below, effectively keeping any moisture away from standing or walking surface. Some kitchen drain mats even have large, visibly open drainage holes that food debris can fit through. This removes even more potential hazards from the walking surface, as food debris can be just as slippery as excess liquids. Kitchen anti-fatigue mats trap the liquids and food debris beneath their rubbery surface to prevent the substances from posing a serious hazard. Drain mats maintain the driest possible walking surface at all times, using the simple laws of gravity to bring moisture down through the mats’ openings.
Rubber handles moisture much better than other materials, which is another reason it is the top choice for kitchen anti-fatigue mats. Many kitchen mats are made from nitrile, which is a high-quality synthetic rubber that is resistant to oils and greases. Any restaurant mat that is made from nitrile will feature a slick, non-permeable surface. Nitrile mats can easily endure a long list of oils and greases, as well as heavy abrasions and extreme temperatures. Nitrile is not only a popular choice for kitchen anti-fatigue mats, but for all food-based rubber applications. From flooring to the tiny rubber parts on kitchen appliances, nitrile is the perfect kitchen elastomer. No matter what heavy oils and greases are used in your restaurant, nitrile chef mats can handle the job. Natural rubber is a more affordable option for kitchen mats, and such mats perform well so long as they are not exposed to heavy oils and greases. Strong substances such as these can cause the natural rubber to degrade quickly.
Whether they are made from natural rubber or nitrile, kitchen anti-fatigue mats are easy to install, transport, and clean. Chef mats are thick and heavy, so they can be installed easily without adhesive. The weight of the restaurant mat, in combination with rubber’s natural slip-resistance holds it into place. If the mat starts to dirty or sticky, it can be picked up and moved just as easily as it was placed down. Take the mat outdoors or simply hose it down for a good cleaning. Since most kitchen anti-fatigue mats are made from chemical resistant rubber, you can even scrub it down with your favorite cleaning solution for a more thorough cleaning. Commercial kitchens can be consistently messy places, and that is why kitchen mats are made to be so durable. You can count on kitchen anti-fatigue mats to provide comfort and prevent slips for a long, long time.
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