By: Chelsea on July 27th, 2012
Standing while working is a new revolution slowly taking over many work environments as Americans recognize the harsh effects that sitting for extended periods of time can take on the body. Many companies are switching their standard office desks
out for higher work stations or adjustable desks that allow their employees to stand while they are working or sit back down in their office chair when they begin to feel fatigued. Getting a new desk is the first step in the process to creating a more healthy environment, however, standing on a hard surface for extended periods of time can lead to just as many health issues that are experienced when sitting in an unergonomic office chair. The best solution for this? Purchasing an anti-fatigue mat.
What is an anti-fatigue mat?
Anti-fatigue mats provide relief from standing on hard floors or surfaces for long periods of time. Working on hard floors on a daily basis can be extremely taxing on your employees leading to back and leg pain and can lead to an increase in physical stress. This inadvertently leads to a decrease in worker productivity and overall output. Standing is extremely fatiguing and elicits major physical exhaustion because your body’s heart muscles have to work extra hard against gravity to maintain blood flow. Lack of movement in the legs causes the muscles to constrict as they work harder to keep the body upright.
The benefits of anti-fatigue matting
Anti-fatigue mats are beneficial in a number of ways including reducing back pain, increasing circulation, reducing leg pain, reducing spinal compression, reducing absenteeism, and increasing productivity. Their soft surface provides a more supportive surface to walk on and reduces pressure on specific points in the joints, connective tissue and muscles. A well made anti-fatigue mat will cause the body’s muscles to slowly contract and expand as they conform to the mat’s flexibility.
Anti-fatigue mat applications
Anti-fatigue mat collections have been diversified to be versatile enough to be used in just about any application including medical offices, environments that require ESD ratings, switchboard environments, wet applications, theme parks, grocery stores, restaurants, hair salons, banks, labs, or just about anywhere where employees are required to stand. They have even reaching a new demographic, stay at home moms. Stay at home moms are finding these mats to be beneficial when performing regular house hold chores such as washing dishes, cooking, cleaning, ironing, hanging clothes, and other tasks that require standing.
Help improve your overall costs by investing in quality anti-fatigue mats for your employees. You will be helping to reduce the physical pain that comes with working on hard surfaces for long hours at a time, avoid worker compensation claims, avoid accidents due to slipping, and employees taking time off work. Your employees will thank you, your productivity and output will increase, and you will be saving money and therefore improving your bottom line. Anti-fatigue mats can conveniently be found at select online retailers, such as SitBetter.com, who offer a wide variety of mats, even those for specialty applications in an assortment of colors and sizes.
By: Chelsea on July 20th, 2012
Anti-fatigue mats are designed to reduce fatigue associated with standing for long periods of time on a hard surface such as cement,
hard wood floors, tile, carpet, etc. They can be constructed of a variety of materials including rubber, foam, visco-elastic, and vinyl. These mats are placed on hard surfaces in areas where people stand for prolonged periods of time or repeatedly walk short distances back and forth. In order to protect workers and relieve the fatigue and pain associated with standing, companies are utilizing ergonomic products like anti-fatigue matting. There are many different anti-fatigue mat models available in different shapes, sizes, and colors which is why it is essential to choose one that will be best suited for your application prior to purchasing.
ESD
Having furniture that is ESD rated is crucial for certain environments where electrostatic discharge may be present. ESD anti-fatigue mats disperse static electricity from an operator the moment they step on the mat and safely away from sensitive equipment. It is important to prevent the accumulation of static electricity by quickly draining it from operators and eliminate the hazards of data loss or the damaging of micro-circuitry equipment. Conductive matting should always be used with a ground cord, and the surface kept clean.
Salon
Working at a salon requires peak performance while standing all day which is why it is important to have a salon mat that can help reduce fatigue. Salon mats come in a variety of shapes depending on what is best suited for your work station including a semi-circle or rectangle. They also come with a chair depression to fit around the base of your salon chair. Another special feature that can be found in specified models is puncture resistance to heels, known as heel proof salon mats. They are available in the standard black but can also come in a softwoods collection to enhance your salon environment while providing the simplest and most effective way to reduce fatigue and stress.
Wet Application Settings
Anti-Fatigue matting is also available in a configuration that makes it suitable for wet area applications, areas that were previously restricted to the traditional molded products with their marginal anti-fatigue performance. This is ideal for industrial or medical environments where liquids can often come in contact with the flooring. Most anti-fatigue mats designed for wet applications are self-extinguishing, non flammable, and chemical resistant.
Full Roll Mats
While most anti-fatigue mats are designed for personal use, there are other applications where a more cost effective approach is desired which is where a full roll mat comes in. These mats are long enough to accommodate multiple workers standing in the same line such as assembly lines or in industrial environments where workers are required to work within close proximity to each other.
Industrial
Industrial Anti-Fatigue Mats facilitate the 180-degree-to-and-fro movement required at service counters and assembly lines while avoiding the stress on knees and ankles that result when the same movements are made on mats with a molded non-slip surface. They are designed to not suffer from deterioration due to weathering, ozone exposure, and is self-extinguishing when tested in accordance with FMVSS-302.
Medical
Perfect for doctors and nurses that are on their feet the greater majority of the day, medical anti-fatigue mats are constructed for the ability to be easily cleaned with most disinfecting agents meeting the challenge of most laboratory and medical environments. They display excellent physical properties such as tensile strength, tear resistance and cleanability.
By: Chelsea on July 13th, 2012
Desk jobs have become notorious for joint pain, difficulty staying focused for extended periods of time and overall bad health. From hours of sitting, or even standing in uncomfortable areas without the ability to change your posture, you risk weight gain, higher blood pressure and strained joints, causing longer term chronic issues. Likewise, there are now fewer reasons to leave our work station, which has caused us to stay sedentary for longer periods of time, adding to the strain. However, there are easy fixes that allow people to change the way they work to improve their energy and reduce strain to their body.
Here are four easy ways you can quickly improve your health at work.
- Walk to the other office to speak to somebody.
Modern technology has made it easier for people to be lazy at work. Now, with e-mail, instant messaging and other collaboration tools, you never have to leave your desk to work together with another person. But even though the tools are available to make it possible to never leave your desk, that does not mean you should. Whenever you are able, get up and walk to another office to speak with somebody. This change in posture will keep you from falling victim to desk job tire.
Sit more ergonomically.
The chair in which you sit has a lot to do with how you feel overall. Without the proper lumbar support and ability to move around even while you sit, you risk putting additional unnecessary strain on your joints. There are easy ways to fight a sore back at work simply by switching out the chair you are confined to so many hours of the workday. When searching for a new desk chair, find one that has the back support you need to help you stay sitting up straight, as well as the flexibility you require to be able to move front, back and side to side without limitation so that you can further increase your movement while sitting at your desk.
- Stand frequently.
Standing is a great way to get the blood flowing again. If possible, find a way to stand and work as much as you can. This change in posture puts significantly less strain on your joints, and it actually helps you burn more calories simply by making this small posture adjustment. If your job is one that requires you to stand for extended periods of time, you may also start to feel the solid ground and single position tiring you out. In these situations, try using anti fatigue mats for the workplace to help encourage more blood flow and keep you from becoming tired while working. These are great for people who are sent to assembly lines, service counters and other areas where you are required to stay standing for an extended period of time.
Take active lunch breaks.
When you are free from the confines of your office and able to get out and about to eat lunch and grab some fresh air, avoid the temptation to do so by sitting down at a fast food restaurant or, even worse, behind your desk. Instead, pack your lunch every day and hit a walking trail. Once you have had your lunch in your car, jump out and start walking. Even a half an hour of movement in the middle of your workday can add up to more energy, more calories burned and more mobility in your joints.
Pain and tiredness are chronic issues experienced by people in desk jobs, where they frequently sit or stand for extended periods of time. By making these four easy switches, you can feel better in no time!
By: Chelsea on July 6th, 2012
Picking out a waste receptacle for your business is not the most glamorous task, yet it is something that needs to be taken care of in
order to keep your work place clean and presentable. With the variety of choices available, it is important to determine beforehand which will work best for your place of work. If the trash can is going to be in an office environment, appearance is of the utmost importance and should be taken into consideration when choosing a receptacle. Brass, chrome, and stainless steel are all sleek looking choices that fit in well in any business or professional work environment. Fiberglass is another viable option and can be customized to match any preexisting office decor or company colors. Additional features often can be added at up-charge such as leveling feet, anchors to prevent theft, plastic liners, and even the ability to have a customized logo.
Outdoor Waste Receptacle
Outdoor Waste Receptacles
Outdoor waste receptacles are equally important and should not be ignored. This is where the majority of your customers, visitors, employees, and people that pass by will be disposing their waste which is why it is important to have the receptacle be fully functional and able to withstand varying weather conditions. Most commonly, outdoor receptacles are constructed of concrete, plastic and metal. It is also advisable to get a receptacle that has a lock on it to deter vandalism and stealing.
Waste Capacity
The size of the waste receptacle is also important to ensure that it is able to meet the capacity of waste disposed on a daily basis. It is also important to consider how often the waste will be removed along with the person who will be responsible for emptying the trash. Units that can hold larger capacities may have a more difficult time transporting the trash to the dumpster. As a general rule of them, if your company or building is larger and gets a lot of foot traffic, then larger receptacles that can hold up to 20-24 gallons are preferable. For smaller offices 13-20 gallon waste receptacles are more suitable. Receptacles for personal desk use should be smaller in size and only need to be able to hold up to 4-5 gallons of waste.
Functionality (Opening, top style, type, etc.)
Functionality is also a crucial factor in determining which waste receptacle will work best for your business. The location of the opening on the trash can greatly effects the ease of use. Side openings have the advantage of allowing for space on the top of the can for an ash urn or storage space for food trays, although top openings are far more commonly seen. The type of top also is a key factor to functionality. There are slot openings which are perfect for recycling, swing and hamper tops which conceal the trash allowing for a cleaner appearance, open tops that limit the chances of coming into contact with germs, rain cap tops which prevent trash from becoming soiled, and many more options. Outdoor lids are often attached by a cable to prevent theft and/or vandalism. Step-on or hands free receptacles are also a popular choice for hospitals, doctors offices, and homes as an infection control measure as well as their ability to control odor.
