| Do you know the largest cause of physician | | | | shift at the Ford Chesterfield Trim Plant. |
| visits in the United States? | | | | Two of the surfaces tested were concrete and |
| | | | a 3/8" rubber anti-fatigue mat. The |
| The flu? The Common cold? No, the largest | | | | conclusive result of the study was that hard |
| cause of physician visits is lower back pain, | | | | concrete floors caused the greatest amount of |
| apart from headaches. | | | | discomfort and fatigue, while anti fatigue |
| | | | mats were able to reduce it by as much as |
| Lower back pain can be quite a drag, | | | | 50%. |
| especially since its usually accompaniend by | | | | |
| dreadful foot & leg pain. A major cause of | | | | Your company can directly benefit from the |
| foot, leg, & back pain is harsh and demanding | | | | use of anti fatigue mats through increased |
| work environments, where a worker can stand | | | | worker productivity, reduced worker |
| on an extremely hard surface for prolonged | | | | compensation costs, and lower insurance costs |
| time frames. | | | | and absenteeism. Since it is a |
| | | | well-established fact that companies are |
| Working on hard surfaces can cause severe | | | | losing billions of dollars each year due to |
| fatigue, which is when the muscles are | | | | the above mentioned worker related issues, it |
| constricted and blood flow is reduced. In | | | | only makes sense to make a trivial investment |
| this state, the heart works a lot harder to | | | | on anti fatigue matting to dramatically |
| pump blood through the troubled areas, and | | | | reduce these losses. |
| the body runs out of energy. The negative | | | | |
| effects are pain and exhaustion. | | | | In addition to pain and discomfort, prolonged |
| | | | standing on hard surfaces can also cause |
| One solution to this ever-growing problem is | | | | long-term problems. Pronation, which is the |
| to use anti fatigue mats in the workplace, | | | | extensive flattening of the foot, and |
| especially in areas where a lot of standing | | | | varicose veins, which are caused by the |
| labor is performed. Apart from cushioning, | | | | stagnation of blood in lower areas, are two |
| anti fatigue mats provide a gentle "rebound" | | | | health problems associated with standing |
| which encourages subtle movement of leg and | | | | trauma. These problems are very costly in |
| calf muscles, thus promoting an easier flow | | | | terms of worker compensation and insurance, |
| of blood to and from the heart. Basically, | | | | not to mention the resulting lack of |
| through more efficient muscle activity, the | | | | productivity and employee turnover. |
| imbalance of constricted blood is virtually | | | | |
| eliminated. | | | | Anti fatigue mats are a real solution, as |
| | | | recommended by the National Safety Council in |
| So what is the proof that anti fatigue mats | | | | its publication "Ergonomics". Amongst the |
| actually work? | | | | professionals who recommend anti fatigue mats |
| | | | are ergonomists, occupational nurses, |
| There are several studies that prove the | | | | insurance agents, and POM managers. |
| efficacy of anti fatigue mats, with the most | | | | |
| notable one being a format study at the | | | | It is essential that the workplace be safe |
| Center of Ergonomics at the University of | | | | and pleasant in order to promote the highest |
| Michigan. Mark Redfern, an economist, tested | | | | levels of productivity, reduce the rate of |
| the effects of a variety of floor conditions | | | | absenteeism and turnover, increase employee |
| on physical fatigue. Fourteen subjects were | | | | satisfaction, and as a direct result, cut |
| required to stand throughout their entire | | | | costs and improve profits. |