Industrial workplace matsPrint
Standing at work: better on special mats
Sales staff, hairdressers, surgical teams and in particular industrial workers are just some examples of the 16.5 million people in Germany who according to the BAuA (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) have a job that means they spend all or most of the day on their feet. Standing is deemed to be safe but it can harm the body if exaggerated. The strains then acting on the body can cause problems with muscles and joints, backache, varicose veins and even circulatory complaints. It is of course not possible to do away with standing jobs; on the other hand, workplaces can be designed for standing to be far less of a burden. The contribution made in this respect by special workplace mats with cushioning properties is explained in this document.
Industrial rubber mats protect the joints and boost efficiency
Ergonomically cushioning workplace mats make a positive contribution to the working conditions of millions of people who have to stand in their job. The elasticity of the mats is rated according to human physiology and relieves the spinal column as well as the ankle, knee and hip joints. As another positive side effect, concentration and efficiency levels are sustained over a longer period of time and can thus reduce the time staff have to take off work; in the end this can also enhance motivation.
Hard surfaces cause muscle fatigue
It's quite easy to explain how it works: muscles get tired very quickly on a hard surface. As a result, they fail to provide the necessary support for the spinal column which gets out of balance. This increases the pressure on the intervertebral discs which leads to painful tension. The reduced levels of muscle activity in the legs mean that there is no longer adequate support to keep the blood flowing back out of the veins. The body's "muscle pump" gradually stops working, resulting in tired and heavy legs with painful blood congestion. There is a risk here of varicose veins and circulatory problems.
Staying fit longer without tiring so quickly
Ergonomic industrial workplace mats can prevent these problems. They reduce jolting impacts and their special surface stimulates intuitive compensatory movements. This has two positive effects: on the one hand, the muscle pump in the legs keeps going and ensures the circulatory system works properly. On the other hand, more balanced demands are made of the muscles surrounding the spinal column, avoiding any one-sided pressure on the intervertebral discs. At the same time there is less pressure on the ankle, knee and hip joints.
Ergonomics and occupational safety
But ergonomic workplace mats take account of more than just health aspects. They also play a significant role in occupational safety, as long as they have a non-slip surface to prevent them from compounding the risk of falls. Another advantage is that any tools or products that are dropped are also protected from damage.
Ergonomic industrial workplace mats can be designed with different surface geometries for use in dry, damp or rotating workplaces. In the interests of long service lives, they should be able to withstand high loads, offer maximum safety when walked on with low turning resistance and have particularly flat edges.