Featured product: SATECH Anti-fatigue Mats and Anti-fatigue Surgical Mats
Our manufacturing partner, SATECH, discusses in depth nine questions to ask before purchasing anti-fatigue mats for your facility. We have highlighted three of those nine questions below. For full article,please view it here.
In terms of hospital settings, these mats are cart-washable and often times used in OR rooms. The SmartCells® Anti-Fatigue Surgical Mat can be used in specific operating room areas where discomfort from prolonged standing can interfere with concentration. Standing in surgery for extended periods of time can have a negative impact on the concentration of doctors and nurses. Anti-Fatigue mat technology can help concentration.
A reminder that anti-fatigue mats have crucial impacts on ergonomics across many industries. No matter the industry you are in, consider these essential questions before making your purchase:
A clean, dry floor is crucial to prevent a mat from sliding, but it's not always feasible. The material of the mat itself can also play a role in how easily it moves across the floor. Some foam compositions can deteriorate quickly, leading to a slippery layer between the mat and the floor. Even if these mats have a hard finish, users may not notice the material's degradation since the top surface appears intact. Additionally, lightweight mats can shift easily, posing a tripping hazard when objects roll over them or they are kicked or bumped.
SmartCells mats are notably more robust than lightweight alternatives, resisting movement while remaining easy to clean and remove.
There is a common yet flawed belief that suggests if a hard surface is unfavorable for standing, then a soft surface must be preferable. To address this misconception, many mat surfaces are made from foam materials. Despite the various construction methods, such as domed foam geometries or textured top-covers, all foam-based mats face a common issue: they become firmer when compressed. So, if the goal is to offer a softer surface, why use a material that hardens under pressure? Conversely, some mats are crafted from materials that are challenging to compress, lacking the softness advantage provided by foam.
SmartCells get softer as they are compressed, without bottoming out.
The elastic modulus (compressibility) of a material is a key indicator of firmness and plays a significant role in evaluating product performance. It is typically measured in Mega Pascals (MPa), a unit of pressure, with the ideal firmness range falling between 0.6 and 0.9 MPa to minimize fatigue.
A surface that is excessively soft, like a mattress, can lead to increased fatigue. Conversely, a surface that is too hard or easily bottoms out may not offer much relief. Soft surfaces tend to wear out faster.
Many ergonomic/antifatigue mats claim to be the "softest" or "plushest" on the market, but such mats often exceed the optimal firmness range, potentially increasing fatigue and the risk of injury due to surface instability. This instability can cause excessive body movement or lower extremity shifting over time. Thicker, softer mats also pose a higher trip hazard and wear out more quickly, highlighting that softer does not always translate to better fatigue reduction and injury prevention.
SmartCells mats, runners, platforms and cushioned floors are engineered to very specific parameters that reflect the latest research on optimal compressibility.
To request a quote or for more information on SmartCells Anti-fatigue mats, contact our team of local representatives at [email protected]🍁
