Anti Fatigue Flooring
How To Lower Worker Leg Pain With Anti Fatigue Mats
Lower back pain can be quite a drag, especially since its usually accompaniend by dreadful foot & leg pain. A major cause of foot, leg, & back pain is harsh and demanding work environments, where a worker can stand on an extremely hard surface for prolonged time frames.
Working on hard surfaces can cause severe fatigue, which is when the muscles are constricted and blood flow is reduced. In this state, the heart works a lot harder to pump blood through the troubled areas, and the body runs out of energy. The negative effects are pain and exhaustion.
One solution to this ever-growing problem is to use anti fatigue mats in the workplace, especially in areas where a lot of standing labor is performed. Apart from cushioning, anti fatigue mats provide a gentle "rebound" which encourages subtle movement of leg and calf muscles, thus promoting an easier flow of blood to and from the heart. Basically, through more efficient muscle activity, the imbalance of constricted blood is virtually eliminated.
So what is the proof that anti fatigue mats actually work?
There are several studies that prove the efficacy of anti fatigue mats, with the most notable one being a format study at the Center of Ergonomics at the University of Michigan. Mark Redfern, an economist, tested the effects of a variety of floor conditions on physical fatigue. Fourteen subjects were required to stand throughout their entire shift at the Ford Chesterfield Trim Plant. Two of the surfaces tested were concrete and a 3/8" rubber anti-fatigue mat. The conclusive result of the study was that hard concrete floors caused the greatest amount of discomfort and fatigue, while anti fatigue mats were able to reduce it by as much as 50%.
Your company can directly benefit from the use of anti fatigue mats through increased worker productivity, reduced worker compensation costs, and lower insurance costs and absenteeism. Since it is a well-established fact that companies are losing billions of dollars each year due to the above mentioned worker related issues, it only makes sense to make a trivial investment on anti fatigue matting to dramatically reduce these losses.
In addition to pain and discomfort, prolonged standing on hard surfaces can also cause long-term problems. Pronation, which is the extensive flattening of the foot, and varicose veins, which are caused by the stagnation of blood in lower areas, are two health problems associated with standing trauma. These problems are very costly in terms of worker compensation and insurance, not to mention the resulting lack of productivity and employee turnover.
Anti fatigue mats are a real solution, as recommended by the National Safety Council in its publication "Ergonomics". Amongst the professionals who recommend anti fatigue mats are ergonomists, occupational nurses, insurance agents, and POM managers.
It is essential that the workplace be safe and pleasant in order to promote the highest levels of productivity, reduce the rate of absenteeism and turnover, increase employee satisfaction, and as a direct result, cut costs and improve profits.
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How to best cut rubber anti-fatigue floor mats?
I have some 36 in x 36 in 2 in thick rubber mats I need to cut. I have access to circular saw, table saw, jig saw, hack saw, razor box cutter, hunting knife, chain saw, electric turkey carving knife (as someone suggested) and drimmel. I'm leaning toward the circular saw but don't know what blade (large or small teeth) or if I need soapy water as a lube. I'm afraid there will be significant smoke and sticking to the blade about a foot into the process. Someone also suggested NO2 or CO2 to freeze it first. Would like a professional looking cut. Suggestions?
I forgot to mention that I am cutting 6 inches off one side so I will have a 36x30 mat. So one straight cut the length of the mat.
These mats are either the rubber, or the expanded foam rubber like product. For the expanded, an electric carving knife works well. I've never tried it on the dense rubber before, but try it on the corner first.
For rubber, get out a large table or bench,,, plywood on a folding table works,
Then you have two choices,,,,
1. Clamp a straight edge, 1 x 2 will work, if you have a straight one, and use a propane torch and a hawk bill carpet knife. You can try sawing manually, but you have to have a tough enough straight edge to hold down the matt. Try the hack saw blade on a corner.
2. For electric saw, cover the mat with an old piece of plywood, so you make a sandwhich of plywood, mat, plywood, and then cut it. Small teeth make a cleaner cut, and the plywood chips help keep your teeth from fouling. It stinks, keep it outside.
I prefer the manual method with the torch and hawk bill. Less mess, more control, and less chance of messing up. Just remember, only heat the knife, not red glowing hot or it will take the temper out of the blade. You want it to cut, not melt the rubber. The heat just makes it slide though better.
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