Does Your Workplace Need Anti Fatigue Kitchen Mats?
Anti fatigue mats are particularly useful in kitchen environments like in restaurants, cafes and bars where staff need to stand for long periods of time.
How do anti fatigue mats work?
Anti fatigue mats cushion hard floors and provide extra support and comfort for joints. Staff often find that anti fatigue mats reduce the soreness in their feet, ankles, knees and back over long days. Standing in one spot for long periods of time, such as washing dishes or chopping in place, creates significant physical fatigue because leg muscles become static and blood flow reduces. This actually means that the heart must work harder to get the blood moving - which is why you feel exhausted at the end of a long day of standing, even though you haven’t done much physical activity!
How could your workplace benefit from anti fatigue kitchen mats?
Better employee health. Anti fatigue mats in the kitchen can help because they allow employees’ muscles to subtly expand and contract under the soft surface, keeping them active and improving blood flow. This means the heart does not work as hard, oxygen circulates around the body and there is less pain and discomfort.
Increased productivity
Happier, healthier workers are more productive and active in their work. Wouldn’t you be happier to go to work if you knew your joints wouldn’t be aching all day? A 12-month study by Wearwell on anti fatigue mats found that implementing the mats in the workplace reduced absenteeism and lost time from injuries, therefore significantly increasing productivity.
Higher morale
You might find that employees are friendlier towards customers, have higher morale and do not complain about long shifts as much once you install anti fatigue mats around the place. Anti fatigue mats create a generally more comfortable and happy working environment.
Reduced workplace injuries
Anti fatigue mats can also reduce the amount of slips and trips in the workplace because they are designed to be non-skid. Kitchen staff are particularly prone to workplace injuries resulting from slips and trips because of the amount of moisture on the floor - sauces, drinks, water, soap and grease - and the amount of movement and activity that goes on in such a small area.