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Using anti-fatigue flooring
Whether it's dull and annoying or screaming for attention, back pain can make it hard to concentrate on your job. Even more to deal with are the swollen legs and feet that happen from working in a position where you stand all day. Employees that are experiencing foot pain and leg swelling are not able to focus on their job duties. Their level of concentration is decreased, causing them to neglect some of their job responsibilities. This pain and lack of concentration ends up costing employers millions of dollars every year. If these are some of the problems affecting you, or the employees you work with, you may want to consider anti-fatigue floor matting.
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Four work-related factors are associated with increased risk of back pain and injury:
- Force. Exerting too much force on your back may cause injury. If your job is physical in nature, you might face injury if you frequently lift or move heavy objects.
- Repetition. Repetition refers to the number of times you perform a certain movement. Overly repetitious tasks can lead to muscle fatigue or injury, particularly if they involve stretching to the limit of your range of motion or awkward body positioning.
- Posture. Posture refers to your position when sitting, standing or performing a task. If, for instance, you spend most of your time in front of a computer, you may experience occasional aches and pains from sitting still for extended periods. On average, your body can tolerate being in one position for about 20 minutes before you feel the need to adjust.
- Stress. Pressures at work or at home can increase your stress level and lead to muscle tension and tightness, which may in turn lead to back pain.
You can purchase anti-fatigue floor matting for about $50. Sam's Club and Costco are two stores where you can find anti-fatigue floor matting. Anti-fatigue floor matting works because it provides a buffer in between the floor and the employee's feet. Think of it like wearing another pair of shoes. If you work on hardwood or tile floors all day long, anti-fatigue floor matting is a must-have. Companies that use anti-fatigue floor matting have found that the backaches and leg cramps reduce almost immediately.
Anti-fatigue floor matting can also prevent injuries due to slips and falls on hard floors. The material of the floor mats grabs onto the surface of the floor and onto the surface of the shoe, causing the two to stick together. This can help to reduce workplace injuries in any environment. It is typically made of materials that are easy to wash, are durable and can come in many different colors to match the space they are laid in.
Companies that have invested in matting have seen happier and healthier employees, reduced insurance costs, less workman's compensation claims and a lot less aches and pains. While there are no studies to show that this specific type of matting can increase productivity in the workplace, it is only reasonable to assume that providing your employees with additional safety precautions and a softer landing on their feet and back will help alleviate many of the back and feet aches and pains that can decrease their productivity.
In addition to including anti-fatigue flooring, stretching your muscles before a long day on your feet can significantly help reduce stress on your back and legs. The National Health Institute recommends stretching at least 2 times a day. Before work and on your lunch break are ideal times to give your muscles the stretch they need to handle the physical stress of standing on your feet all day.
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