How to Choose the Best Anti-Fatigue Mats

Anti-Fatigue Mats Article – Choosing the Best Anti-Fatigue Mats

Which type of anti-fatigue mats are the best for one user may not offer the best relief from fatigue for another. There is a wide selection of anti-fatigue mats on the market today. The reason there are so many types of anti-fatigue floor mats is because of the diversity of environments in which they are utilized. The myriad of anti-fatigue products available may pose somewhat of a challenge to the ill-informed.

All fatigue mats are not equal. Each manufacturer attempts to equip his product with features and benefits that will provide an edge over a competitor’s product. The key to choosing the best anti-fatigue mat is in matching the features of the mat with the desired benefit to the end user.

For instance, choosing anti-fatigue mats that are designed for dry areas and then using them in areas where oils, animal fats or liquids are present will generally result in a mess. Anti-fatigue mats that are utilized incorrectly may result in safety hazards to the end user, degradation of the anti-fatigue mat and/or a maintenance nightmare. Choosing the right type of anti-fatigue mat will result in an increase in productivity, a safer work environment, the floor mats will be much easier to keep clean and finally, the anti-fatigue mats will have a much longer usable lifespan.

If the wrong anti-fatigue mats are chosen, the resulting situation almost always ends up costing more money. The expense may be in hard dollars for replacement or increased maintenance expenditures to keep the fatigue mats clean. If the wrong floor mats present a safety issue, then there may be the costs attributed to slip, trip and falls (It is not uncommon for medical/legal claims to be in excess of $10,000).

Choosing the best anti-fatigue mats doesn’t just happen. Most end users ultimately find a product that may be deemed as an acceptable fatigue mat, but this situation usually occurs as a result of trial and error. Consider how expensive it could be should you initially choose the wrong anti-fatigue mat.

If the right questions are posed, the answers can be quite helpful to you in making an informed decision between a variety of anti-fatigue mats. The information gathered will arm you with specific attributes that a fatigue mat will need to possess in order for it to pass muster. You can then quickly weed out the types of anti-fatigue matting that do not meet your criteria.

Some questions you may wish to take into consideration to identify the best anti-fatigue mats for you might be:

  • Are the anti-fatigue mats going to be subjected to any oils, greases, chemicals or liquids of any kind?
  • Are there any static or high voltage electrical issues that need to be considered for this anti-fatigue matting?
  • How will you clean and maintain these anti-fatigue mats?
  • Will the anti-fatigue mats be utilized in any food preparation areas?
  • Will these anti-fatigue mats be subjected to any wheeled carts?
  • Are the workers utilizing the fatigue matting “high dollar” employees that are difficult to find, attract and retain?
  • What type of usable lifespan are you looking for in an anti-fatigue mat?
  • What type of work will be performed in the area where the anti-fatigue mats will be located?
  • Will the use of anti-fatigue mats hinder or enhance the overall work area?

Once you compile a list of the anti-fatigue mats that initially meet your performance criteria, you will no doubt notice that these floor mats also have a wide variance in price. This price variance is usually due to any additional features that the various anti-fatigue mats may possess. Floor mats that are good at anti-fatigue, have grease resistant qualities and can be used in a kitchen environment may cost more than a good anti-fatigue mat that is designed for use in only dry work areas. Anti-fatigue mats with features generally cost more. Your mission should be to identify the MUST HAVE FEATURES and de-emphasize the features that anti-fatigue mats may have that do not offer a benefit for your particular application.

If you need further assistance in determining which anti-fatigue mats will offer the best solution for your particular application, please visit us online at www.madmatter.com or e-mail me at gstorz@madmatter.com