AcroMat’s Post

What type of workplace do you have? The number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), also know as ergonomic injuries, is expected to double by 2050. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, MSDs are the leading cause of workplace absenteeism. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, there is a direct connection between work environment and the development of MSDs. In brief, your workplace is either actively reducing injuries. Or, it's causing them. As millions of #manufacturing roles remain unfilled, competition for top talent continues to increase, and retention remains a challenge... It's worth asking a few questions: Do employees feel like their health is a priority? Do you have a workplace people want to join and stay? Are your anti-fatigue mats working for or against your people? Are employees going home from work healthy as when they arrived? Are they able to stand long hours on their feet, building your premium products, without pain and discomfort? #muscolskeletalhealth #workplacesafety #manufacturingjobs

This custom anti-fatigue mat for Southwire Company nails the safety value of "designed to fit" over standard rectangular mats. ➡Traditional anti-fatigue approach: The traditional mat approach would include multiple rectangular mats pieced together to cover the workstation below. There would be gaps between mats, overlapping mats, and several different lengths and widths. ❌Trip hazards ❌Slip hazards ❌MSD injury risks ➡Custom anti-fatigue mat approach: With our custom mat builder, #AcroSketch, Southwire designed the exact size, shape, and features needed to completely cover the workspace with comfort, traction, and a glove-like fit to eliminate sliding risks. One workstation. One custom mat. No tiles or puzzle pieces. ✅Area fully covered ✅Consistent surface ✅Consistent traction ✅Consistent comfort ✅No gaps in coverage ✅No seams coming apart ✅No edge-standing, on/off stepping ✅100% nitrile guaranteed not to curls ✅100% nitrile guaranteed not to sink or flatten ✅100% nitrile impervious to liquids, oils, & chemicals ✅Uninterrupted traction and support for years to come The design took minutes. The safety impact is being felt by Southwire operators for years to come. -- Workstations come in all shapes and sizes. Your anti-fatigue mats should too. #NationalErgonomicsMonth #GlobalErgonomicsMonth #workplacesafety #slipandfall #leanmanufacturing

Throughout #GlobalErgonomicsMonth, we're sharing workplace safety tips we've learned from experts in the field. Today, a Q&A with Ergonomist and Owner of ErgoWorks, Beth Mayotte! 1. What 3 ergonomic solutions offer the most bang for your buck? 2. What alternatives are there is major investment isn't an option? 3. How can leaders gain buy-in for key ergonomic investments? Beth joined AcroMat General Manager Russell Herbert to answer these questions and much more as part of a presentation called, Ergonomic Screening: The Top 5 MSD Injury Risks. Link in comments for Beth's full presentation!👇 -- October is Global Ergonomics Month and #NationalErgonomicsMonth. Throughout the month, we'll be sharing conversations we've had with ergonomists around addressing MSD / ergonomic injuries and other resources exploring the role anti-fatigue mats play in preventing them. Hit the follow button to join us! #ErgonomicsMonth #workplacesafety #musculoskeletalhealth

MSDs are often invisible to the eye until an injury has been reported. How can you spot them earlier? Ergonomist Mary Plehal walks through the MSD injury hierarchy – including key signs and symptoms. MSD Injury Hierarchy: 1. Fatigued or stressed tissue 2. Discomfort 3. Pain 4. Decreased function 5. MSD Injury "There's an abundance of research that shows stressed and fatigued tissue is more likely to get injured," shares Mary. "The reality is, leaders need to realize the solution is at the bottom of the pyramid ... If you take care of the discomfort, the fatigue, the stress, this will significantly reduce your recordable injury rates." -- October is #NationalErgonomicsMonth and #GlobalErgonomicsMonth! Throughout this month, we'll be sharing conversations we've had with ergonomists about addressing MSD / ergonomic injuries, and a host of other resources exploring the role anti-fatigue mats play in preventing them. Hit the follow button to join us! #ErgonomicsMonth #musculoskeletalhealth #workplacesafety

"The custom sample already looks and feels miles better than our current mats." –Safety Coordinator, the facility below👇 At AcroMat, we offer free, full-sized, custom anti-fatigue mats to prospects interested in our products. No cost, no obligation, designed to fit. The mat below is an example of a free custom sample mat we made last week for a doors manufacturer. Why is this our approach? We want you to know certainty whether we're the right fit before every spending a dime. -- The AcroMat sample process: 1. Get a free sample mat. 2. The size, shape and material you need. 3. Put it to the test in your production environment. 4. Expose it to the chemicals and products you use for weeks/months. 5. We'll be here if/when you're ready to move forward. That's it. You never have to guess with AcroMat, and that's entirely the point. Get a free sample mat: https://acromat.com/ #workplacesafety #slipandfall #leanmanufacturing

Did you know? AcroMat is on Instagram! Join us over there for a weekly look at the latest in custom anti-fatigue mat design. What you'll find on our Instagram channel: ➡️1. Custom anti-fatigue mat gallery. From small to large, a complete look at the most unique custom mats we're designing for clients across all industries. ➡️2. Custom anti-fatigue mat design inspiration and tips. See how leading brands are using custom anti-fatigue mats to spark inspiration for your own facility. ➡️3. How our clients are using custom design to improve health, safety, productivity and morale across their organizations. First-hand insight into the health, safety and morale benefits AcroMat clients have experienced by using custom mats designed to fit. ✅AcroMat Instagram handle: acromat_custommats #workplacesafety #ergonomicdesign #leanmanufacturing

According to the Operations Manager over this facility, this single custom anti-fatigue mat has provided 5 strategic benefits for his team.👇 ➡1. Eliminated trip hazards "One benefit has been the ability to customize our mat designs within an inch, putting beveled edges where we need to eliminate hard edges, and making sure the mat is a tight fit throughout the workspace," shares the Operations Manager. "As operators move around their workstation, because the area is fully covered, there's no risk of tripping." ✅Consistent cushion throughout the area ✅Consistent traction throughout the area ✅Glove-like custom fit eliminates sliding risks ✅1-piece design; no trip hazards from pieced-together mats ➡2. Beveled edges only where needed A key benefit of custom mats is being able to design them exactly as you need, without compromise. For the Operations Manager, this meant putting #ADACompliant yellow borders where they're beneficial, like entry-exit points, and putting straight edges where they're needed, like up against equipment. The 20-degree yellow borders allow fast-moving operators to navigate on/off the mat without hesitation. The straight edges allow the mat to fit directly up against equipment without any gaps or exposed harsh flooring. ➡3. Ergonomic cushion The mat below is 100% nitrile rubber foam. Unlike the Operation Manager's previous mats, 100% nitrile never loses is shape, sinks or flattens. This has reduced MSD injury risks, as well as risks of tripping and rolled ankles due to areas of the mat sinking. "I've received feedback from several of my team members telling me how much they love the mat and how their feet don't hurt at the end of the day compared to the previous mats," says the Operations Manager. ➡5. Morale "There are safety and ergonomic benefits, but also morale," says the Operations Manager. "When you purchase a high-quality custom anti-fatigue mat, or any type of safety equipment, I think it shows the team that, hey, you know, the leaders truly care about us. They care about our safety." See a few of this facility's other custom mats in the comments! -- What would custom look like in your facility? If there was no limit to what you could design, what would you design? Re-shape what you thought possible with anti-fatigue mats: https://acromat.com/ #workplacesafety #slipandfall #leanmanufacturing

40% of safety, production and manufacturing leaders say sliding anti-fatigue mats is common in their facilities. It doesn't have to be. 5 ways to prevent sliding anti-fatigue mats: ➡1. Add a non-slip backing ➡2. Design your mats to fit like a glove ➡3. Look closely at the makeup of your materials ➡4. Look for National Floor Safety Institute Certification ➡5. Regularly clean the floors beneath and around your mats Interested in learning more about the non-slip coating on slide 4? We put the 2-minute product test video in the comments.👇 -- There are nearly 700,000 slip, trip and fall injuries each year, the No. 2 most common workplace injury. Putting a permanent end to sliding anti-fatigue mats is an easy and definitive way to help lower this number. #slipandfall #workplacesafety #manufacturing #employeesafety

9 years of uninterrupted traction and comfort? EHS Coordinator Jim Blincow with Royal Engineered Composites shares his AcroMat experience. “I was looking for dependable anti-fatigue mats when I was introduced to AcroMat. After trying their mats and receiving positive employee input, we added several AcroMats to our facility. We have now been using various sizes for the past 9 years, with multiple original mats still in use. The mats are effective to this day in reducing fatigue and show minimal wear despite frequent use. I would endorse AcroMat for anyone who needs a dependable, durable mat to reduce fatigue and improve employee comfort.” –Jim Blincow, EHS Coordinator, Royal Engineered Composites Thank you for the thoughtful review, Jim! We're thrilled to hear the mats have been serving your team well for coming up on a decade. #testimonial #fridayfeeling #workplacesafety