Compliance guide
Anti-Fatigue Matting & UK HSE Requirements
Understanding your legal duties as a UK employer when it comes to standing work and anti-fatigue matting. This guide covers relevant legislation, HSE guidance, and how matting fits into workplace health and safety compliance.
Important disclaimer
This guide provides general information about UK workplace health and safety legislation as it relates to standing work and anti-fatigue matting. It does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance on your legal obligations, consult a qualified health and safety professional or solicitor. Legislation and guidance may change—always verify current requirements with official sources.
Legal framework
Relevant UK legislation
Several pieces of UK legislation create duties relevant to standing work and workplace flooring. While none specifically mandate anti-fatigue matting, they establish the framework within which matting becomes a relevant control measure.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Primary legislation • Employers' general duties
Section 2(1) of HSWA 1974 establishes the overarching duty: employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees at work. This includes the provision of safe systems of work and a working environment that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health.
Where prolonged standing causes or contributes to employee health issues (such as musculoskeletal disorders, circulatory problems, or fatigue-related injuries), employers may need to implement control measures. Anti-fatigue matting is one such measure that may be considered "reasonably practicable" depending on the circumstances.
Key provision:
"It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
— Section 2(1), Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Secondary legislation • Risk assessment duties
Regulation 3 requires employers to make a "suitable and sufficient" assessment of risks to the health and safety of employees. This includes risks arising from prolonged standing. The assessment must identify hazards, evaluate risks, and determine appropriate control measures.
Where risk assessments identify standing fatigue as a significant risk, employers must implement control measures. The hierarchy of controls applies: eliminate the hazard where possible (allow sitting), reduce exposure (job rotation, breaks), and provide protective measures (anti-fatigue matting, appropriate footwear).
Risk assessment must consider:
- • Duration of standing (continuous and cumulative daily)
- • Nature of the floor surface (concrete, tile, metal)
- • Nature of the work (static standing vs. walking)
- • Individual factors (age, existing conditions, pregnancy)
- • Existing control measures and their effectiveness
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Secondary legislation • Workplace conditions
These regulations set specific requirements for workplace conditions. Several provisions are relevant to flooring and standing work:
Regulation 12 – Floors and traffic routes
Floors must be suitable for their purpose, free from dangerous obstructions, and not slippery. Any matting installed must not create trip hazards or slip risks.
Regulation 11 – Workstations and seating
Workstations must be suitable for persons and work performed. Suitable seating must be provided where work can be done sitting. This implies standing should not be required where sitting is feasible.
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
Secondary legislation • DSE workstations
While primarily focused on seated computer work, the DSE Regulations are relevant where workers use display screens while standing (e.g., warehouse management terminals, quality inspection stations, dispatch workstations). The Schedule to the regulations specifies workstation requirements.
For standing DSE workstations, employers should consider the cumulative demands of both screen work and standing. Anti-fatigue matting may form part of an ergonomic workstation setup alongside appropriate screen positioning, keyboard height, and work breaks.
Official guidance
HSE guidance on standing work
The Health and Safety Executive publishes guidance on managing risks from prolonged standing. While guidance is not legally binding in itself, it represents the regulator's view of good practice and may be cited in enforcement action or civil claims.
Standing at work: Health effects
HSE recognises that prolonged standing can cause: lower limb fatigue and discomfort, varicose veins, lower back pain, foot problems, and reduced alertness. The risk increases with duration, floor hardness, inability to move, and individual susceptibility.
Recommended interventions
HSE guidance recommends: allowing sitting where possible, using sit-stand workstations, providing anti-fatigue matting where standing is necessary, ensuring appropriate footwear, allowing movement and position changes, and providing adequate rest breaks.
Anti-fatigue matting recommendation
HSE specifically mentions anti-fatigue matting as a control measure for standing work. Mats should provide cushioning without being so soft that they cause instability. They should not create trip hazards and should be appropriate for the environment (slip resistance, chemical resistance where needed).
Consultation with workers
HSE emphasises the importance of consulting workers about standing-related discomfort and involving them in selecting control measures. Workers can provide valuable feedback on matting comfort, placement, and any issues that arise.
Official HSE resources
For current HSE guidance on standing at work and workplace ergonomics, consult:
- → HSE website section on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
- → HSE guidance on workplace ergonomics
- → L24 - Workplace health, safety and welfare (Approved Code of Practice)
Practical compliance
Employer duties and risk assessment
Understanding how anti-fatigue matting fits into your overall health and safety management system.
Step 1: Identify standing work hazards
Conduct a workplace survey to identify all workstations where employees stand for prolonged periods. "Prolonged" typically means more than 2 hours continuously or 4 hours cumulatively per shift. Consider:
- • Production line stations and assembly positions
- • Packing and dispatch workstations
- • Inspection and quality control positions
- • Retail tills and service counters
- • Security and reception desks
- • Kitchen and food preparation areas
Step 2: Assess the risks
For each identified workstation, assess the level of risk considering:
Duration factors
- • Hours of standing per shift
- • Continuous vs. intermittent standing
- • Opportunity for sitting or walking
- • Shift patterns and recovery time
Environmental factors
- • Floor surface (concrete, tile, metal)
- • Floor temperature
- • Presence of liquids or contaminants
- • Existing matting or flooring
Work factors
- • Static standing vs. movement
- • Physical demands of the task
- • Pace and intensity of work
- • Use of tools or equipment
Individual factors
- • Workforce demographics
- • Known health conditions
- • Pregnancy considerations
- • Worker feedback and complaints
Step 3: Implement control measures
Apply the hierarchy of controls to reduce standing-related risks:
Eliminate
Can the work be done seated? Consider sit-stand workstations, seated assembly, or process redesign.
Reduce exposure
Job rotation, scheduled breaks, task variety to limit continuous standing duration.
Protective measures
Anti-fatigue matting, appropriate footwear, footrests, workstation ergonomics.
Step 4: Document and review
Maintain records demonstrating compliance:
- ✓ Risk assessment documentation identifying standing work hazards and control measures
- ✓ Records of matting purchased, installed, and maintained
- ✓ Product specifications and safety data sheets for matting
- ✓ Worker consultation records and feedback
- ✓ Incident and near-miss reports related to standing work or matting
- ✓ Review dates and any changes to assessments
Review risk assessments regularly (at least annually) and whenever significant changes occur—new workstations, process changes, incidents, or worker feedback indicating problems.
Compliance considerations
How matting fits into compliance
Matting as a control measure
Anti-fatigue matting is a recognised control measure for standing work risks. It doesn't eliminate the hazard (standing) but reduces the harmful effects by providing cushioning and encouraging micro-movements. It's typically implemented alongside other measures, not as a sole solution.
Selecting appropriate matting
Matting must be fit for purpose. Consider slip resistance for the environment, durability for expected use, chemical resistance if needed, fire resistance where required, and compatibility with cleaning regimes. Matting that creates new hazards (trips, slips, instability) defeats the purpose.
Installation requirements
Under Regulation 12 of the Workplace Regulations, floors must not present slip or trip hazards. Matting must be securely positioned, with appropriate edge ramping, and should not move during use. Consider how matting interacts with traffic routes and emergency egress.
Maintenance obligations
Matting must be maintained in good condition. Establish cleaning schedules appropriate to the environment. Inspect for damage, curling edges, or wear that could create hazards. Replace worn or damaged matting promptly. Document maintenance as part of your safety management system.
FAQ
Legal requirements: Common questions
Is anti-fatigue matting a legal requirement in the UK?
There is no specific UK law mandating anti-fatigue matting. However, employers have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees. Where risk assessments identify prolonged standing as a hazard, providing anti-fatigue matting may be considered a reasonably practicable control measure. HSE guidance specifically mentions matting as an intervention for standing work fatigue.
What does HSE guidance say about standing at work?
The HSE recognises that prolonged standing can cause fatigue, discomfort, and musculoskeletal disorders. Their guidance recommends employers: allow workers to sit where possible, provide anti-fatigue matting where standing is necessary, ensure appropriate footwear is worn, provide rest breaks, and design workstations to minimise static standing. These are recommendations, not legal requirements, but failure to consider them could leave employers vulnerable if injuries occur.
Can employees claim compensation for standing-related injuries?
Employees may pursue civil claims for work-related musculoskeletal injuries if they can demonstrate the employer failed to take reasonably practicable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. If a risk assessment identified prolonged standing as a hazard but no control measures were implemented, this could support a negligence claim. Proper documentation of risk assessments and control measures (including matting) provides evidence of due diligence.
Do anti-fatigue mats need to meet specific standards?
There is no mandatory British Standard for anti-fatigue matting. However, mats should be fit for purpose and not create additional hazards. Consider: slip resistance (DIN 51130 R-ratings), fire resistance where required, stability (mats should not slide or curl), and appropriate edge ramping to prevent trips. ESD matting for electronics environments should comply with IEC 61340. Look for documented specifications and test certificates.
How should anti-fatigue matting be included in risk assessments?
Risk assessments for standing work should: identify workstations where employees stand for prolonged periods (typically 2+ hours continuously or 4+ hours total daily), assess the nature of the floor surface and existing controls, evaluate worker feedback on discomfort or fatigue, consider control measures including matting, seating, job rotation, and breaks, and document decisions with rationale. Review assessments when circumstances change or incidents occur.
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