Evidence shows that employers significantly underestimate the number of workers suffering
from fatigue and/or pain at the workplace. Not only does this increase the risk of incidents
occurring, but it also reduces productivity substantially. According to the NSC, a typical
employer with 1,000 employees can expect to lose $1 million annually due to fatigue. Fatigue
and pain are, to an extent, inevitable experiences in the workplace; however, it is the duty of
an employer to ensure that they are minimized both in the interests of their workers’ health
as well as the company’s success.

Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to avoid workers experiencing some form of pain
through the work they do. Many jobs involve repetitive awkward movements, standing or
being stationary for long periods of time, heavy lifting and more, all of which contribute
towards workers experiencing pain. Using assistive tools, technology, and strategies that are
catered towards the form of pain being faced will effectively manage discomfort and
maximize productivity. The use of proactive job rotation; a process in which workers move
between tasks at regular intervals (Motabar & Nimbarte, 2021), and ergonomic assessments
of work conditions can reduce the strain workers face from repetitive movements. The most
common forms of pain in the workplace are in the back and lower extremities (Department
of Labor, 2020). Workers in various industries suffer from MSDs through the accumulated
muscle fatigue from standing at work.

Foot pain and fatigue are often the starting point for other pain trailing up the body (Duncan,
2015), leading to pain in the legs, hips, and lower back. Extended periods of standing places
excessive unevenly distributed pressure on the feet, causing muscle fatigue. This in turn,
leads to overcompensation from the upper legs and hips for the strain, which causes lower
back pain from the imbalanced movements and posture. To combat these issues, there are
a few solutions that can be adopted within the workplace. Regular breaks for employees,
especially those performing repetitive tasks, are crucial. Taking short breaks every hour to
stretch can significantly reduce tension and improve overall comfort (Hall, 2022).
Additionally, making use of sit-stand stations for jobs that allow it can prevent the buildup of
fatigue from remaining static (Fewster & Callaghan, 2020). Another highly effective solution is the use of anti-fatigue matting. Many studies have shown that the use of anti-fatigue
matting stimulates blood flow to workers’ legs, alleviating muscle fatigue and reducing foot
and lower-back pain (Winberg et al., 2022). Employers can significantly improve the comfort
of their employees, increase productivity, and create a healthier work environment by
incorporating anti-fatigue matting.