Rubberized Kitchen Rugs and Mats—The Benefits of Comfort in the Kitchen

I would like to tell you the story of a man named Steven who worked for many years in a restaurant that did not employ even a single comfort kitchen mat. He began his job as a restaurant aide, helping to prep and plate meals before they were sent out to the customers, as well as doing dishes when they were short staffed, and eventually even taking the helm as a cook. The entirety of his shift, sometimes well over eight hours, was spent on his feet walking back and forth or standing in the same spot on top of a hard tiled floor. This was exhausting work and as the years came and went he began to find himself needing to ice his sore feet and take aspirin before bed. One day he discovered that his feet were very swollen and walking on them, he explains, literally felt like walking on knives. Unable to work, Steven went to his doctor and was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis (also called heel spur syndrome). His condition, though it can be attributed to excessive running and exercising, came as a direct result of standing for very long periods of time on top of the kitchen’s hard tile floor.

Rubberized kitchen rugs and mats offer a supportive surface that will help protect restaurant staff from these and other injuries. Available as kitchen floor runners, interlocking tiles, and of course mats that come in various sizes—rubber kitchen flooring options are readily available and functional within nearly any space. Employing rubber surfacing in your food preparation areas will provide fatigue resistant advantages, while also bringing a number of other important applications to the table.

If you want to learn more—here are 5 ways that adding rubberized kitchen rugs and mats to your food preparation areas will not only increase comfort, but also efficiency, and vigilance.

• Fatigue Resistance

Failing to use a comfort kitchen mat can lead to foot, ankle, and joint pain and fatigue—eventually it can even lead to exhaustion and far more serious injuries like what happened with Steven. With standing requiring around 20% more energy than sitting, employees who spend their shift on their feet are naturally inclined to become more tired during their work day. These rubber mats and kitchen floor runners are a great way to combat the stress and pain of having stand on their feet all day. Rubber provides relief for tired feet and joints, allowing the users to stand comfortable for extended periods of time.

And best of all is that the application doesn’t matter—whether this is for a large commercial kitchen or a small deli, the supple and supportive surface of rubber is the right solution for tired feet and joints nearly anywhere.

• Increased Efficiency

A wonderful outcome of providing employees with comfortable surfacing is an increase in efficiency. This is particularly important in a business that deals with dangerous equipment—such as the sharp tools and large appliances that are found within a foodservice location. Not having to divert attention to pain and discomfort could lead to employees being more careful and precise with their work, which will mean fewer mistakes, and less time having to fix those mistakes. Rubber kitchen flooring options are also easy to care for, meaning that your employees won’t have to spend any extra time dealing with specialized cleaning methods. A broom to sweep away debris, a moist mop, mild detergent, and even a hose are all viable options for keeping your rubber flooring clean.

• Slip Resistance

Rubber is a remarkable material that offers many great qualities! By virtue of its very nature, rubber is elastic and supple, which is why this is such a great anti-fatigue material. Unlike hard concrete, tile, or linoleum—rubber will adhere to the shape of someone’s foot, gently supporting their weight. But rubber also has a naturally high coefficient of friction which paired with the textured surface that is often used on a comfort kitchen mat—makes this product a great slip resistant flooring option. Some mats even come with drainage holes, allowing spilt liquids and small debris to channel through, effectively lowering the risk of slip and falls. And some mats are even made with grease-resistant rubber, which maintains traction and grip even in the presence of slippery oil.

• Increased Vigilance

A final result of increased comfort can be increased vigilance. Regardless of how up-to-date you stay in the safety department, if people do not extended at least a little bit of personal responsibility then accidents will still happen. Employees should be well trained, and provided with all the tools they need to stay safe—such as oven mitts, fire extinguishers, and of course rubberized kitchen rugs and mats! But even with all these tools, employees should still be expected to be vigilant against accidents—to be aware of their surroundings and actively work toward the prevention of possible dangers. The use of kitchen floor runners and mats is a great way to make sure their focus is off their aching joints and on the tasks at hand.

Rubber kitchen flooring options are an excellent way to provide a cushioned surface to foodservice staff. Ease of installation also makes these products highly accessible to just about anyone! Kitchen floor runners, interlocking tiles, and mats are as easy to install as rolling out, clicking together, or setting down (respectively), and therefore make for a very friendly DIY project. And of course these products are also highly durable, often made from recycled tires, which is a true testament to their resilience and also makes them remarkably affordable! Durable, economical and easy to install—these are just a few reasons why a comfort kitchen mat is so highly valued in a commercial foodservice location, but these advantages don’t come close to the value of providing employees with a safe and comfortable work environment!