Anti fatigue mats

6 Of Your Questions About Anti-Fatigue Mats Answered As anti-fatigue mats are relatively new to the UK market, we still get asked a number of questions about anti-fatigue matting and the benefits of them. Here we aim to answer some of the most common questions we hear to give you a better understanding of what they are, how they work and the associated benefits.

What are anti-fatigue mats?

Anti-fatigue mats are typically cushioned mats designed to reduce aches, pains and tiredness for those individuals who have to stand on cold, hard floors all day. They provide a comfortable standing surface and are often referred to as cushion mats or comfort mats.

How do anti-fatigue mats work?

When standing on hard floors, the muscles in our legs become static, causing our blood flow to reduce. The reduced blood flow is what causes the pain and discomfort that an employee experiences after a long days work. A reduction in blood flow also means that the heart has to work harder, meaning the body will run out of energy quicker, leaving your workers feeling tired and fatigued.

Anti-fatigue mats help to increase blood flow in the legs, by allowing the muscles to expand and contract slightly, which helps to prevent stiffness. The movement in the muscles helps to increase blood flow and oxygen, greatly reducing fatigue of your workers.

How long do anti-fatigue mats last?

Good question! Will last depends on a number of factors: 1.

2.

3.

4.

What material are they made from?

These mats can be constructed from a variety of materials, which influences how hard-wearing they are and therefore how long they are likely to last. Many hard-wearing mats will be made of nitrile rubber which is an extremely robust material. Blown PVC is a much cheaper option but it can be liable to tearing - for this reason they are better suited to low usage, dry areas. When working in a wet area, you will benefit from a mat that has encapsulated cushioning, This will make them water and liquid proof. If liquid is able penetrate the cushioning, it may cause the mat to decompose.

What guarantee is offered?

Manufacturers and suppliers of matting will more often than not give some sort of guarantee or warranty with the product. The length of this guarantee will give you some indication into how long the mats are likely to last and is a vote of confidence from the supplier. Often, the mats will last even longer than the guarantee given, as they won't want to over promise and end up processing countless refunds!

How often are they used?

The more often that somebody will be standing on the mats, the quicker that they will start wear. A mat that is being stood on for 8 solid hours a day will have a shorter lifespan than one that is being used for a couple of hours here and there. If your antifatigue mats will need to be used for long periods of time, ensure they are made from high quality materials and have a long guarantee, to give them the longest possible lifespan.

Are chemicals, liquids or grease being used around the mats?

If any of these materials are being used, you need to check that the mats you buy are resistant or totally uneffected by the substance coming into contact with the mat. Most suppliers will

be able to give you chemical compatibility ratings for their mats and tell you whether they are grease or water proof.

Are anti-fatigue mats required by law?

In short, the answer to this question is no - you are not legally obliged to provide your workers with anti-fatigue matting in the UK. However, something that you must abide by is the Health and Safety at Work Act. Employers have a duty of care to provide their employees with a safe working environment. Responsible employers will want to ensure the welfare of their employees in the workplace and their physical health plays a big part in this. With anti-fatigue mats being known to benefit the physical health of those employees that have to stand for long periods of time, the responsible employer should strongly consider using them.

Are anti-fatigue mats really worth it?

Studies have shown that anti-fatigue mats can reduce worker energy consumption by 50%, as well as reduce fatigue by 50%. Both of these factors contribute to improved worker productivity and reduced absenteeism.

The employer needs to consider whether the return on investment of improved worker productivity and lower absenteeism rates is worth the cost of purchasing anti-fatigue mats for their workers.

Where can I buy anti-fatigue mats?

Anti-fatigue mats are available from a number of sources, from industrial catalogues, hardware stores and online to name a few.

To see a selection of links.

anti-fatigue mats

available on the

Mats4U website

click

If you're not quite ready to purchase yet and have some more questions, please feel free to give us a call on 0800 180 4024 or use our Live Chat facility during normal office hours.

Use the best entrance mats

Did you know that on average 70-80% of all dirt inside a building has been brought in from the outside on people’s footwear?

Think about the cost of removing all this dirt. The associated cleaning costs, labour, cleaning equipment, electricity and chemicals involved.

Think about the cost of replacing worn carpets and damaged hard flooring that has been caused by this dirt.

When all added together the costs are truly staggering, yet much of this cost can be prevented as long as your building has effective entrance mats put in place. So when you come to purchase your next entrance mat, do not base your decision on the initial cost of the mat, think about how effective the mat is and over what time period will it continue to perform. You would be better buying a rubber mat for ÂŁ100 which lasted 5 years, than a mat costing ÂŁ50 and lasting 2.

You should check your existing entrance mats, because if they have worn down or if they have not been cleaned sufficiently, they will no longer be stopping

dirt and moisture from entering your building. In which case you need to replace them to prevent your money going down the drain.

Below we’ve put together a guide to help you choose the best entrance mats.

What an effective entrance mat must do: 1. Stop dirt and moisture from getting into your building Choose a mat which scrapes and wipes footwear to remove dirt and moisture. Ensure the rubber matting is big enough so that people make a number of steps on the mat in whichever direction they are travelling.

2. Hold onto dirt and moisture until cleaned An effective mat collects and stores dirt and moisture until it can be safely cleaned away at an appropriate time. Check that your mat says it will actually do this and explains how it does this.

3. Minimise tracking of dirt and moisture off the mat Dirt and moisture should fall to the bottom of the pile where it will not be walked on directly and taken further off the mat. A mat that is bilevel (a scraper surface and lower well for dirt to fall into) will do this most effectively.

4. Ensure a safe walking surface The mat should not be a slip, trip or fall hazard. It should allow the smooth transition of footfall and wheelchair traffic. Coir mats and very deep pile mats which stop wheelchairs from turning will fall foul of this rule.

Which entrance mats should I buy?: We recommend you purchase an entrance matting system for the most effective way of preventing dirt from entering your building. If you only have enough budget to buy one mat, then at the very least purchase a good interior wiper / scraper entrance mat. Otherwise go for an entrance matting system comprising of: 1. An Exterior Scraper Mat This is your first line of defence. The outdoor mat is used to scrape heavy mud, snow, sand and soil off footwear. It needs to be weather proof and durable. See the Mats4U outdoor mats range for examples of suitable mats.

2. An Interior Scraper / Wiper Mat This is the one you need if you only buy one entrance mat, so make sure you get the most effective. The mat scrapes dirt from footwear as well as wiping off moisture to leave feet dryer and minimise slip hazards. See the entrance mats section on Mats4U for our recommendations of what to buy.

3. An Interior Finishing / Wiper Mat The final line of defence. This mat’s main job is to finish off the drying process and remove any fine dirt particles that may still remain on the footwear. These mats can also be placed throughout the building in strategic places such as high traffic areas (receptions, lifts, corridors, vending etc) to protect flooring. See the indoor mats section on Mats4U for these rubber mats.

If you need specific advice on choosing mats suitable for your premises, then give us a call on 0121 351 4444 or post a message here and we will point you in the right direction.