Aching feet is a comm
on complaint amongst workers nowadays. Being a Butcher involves having to endure endless hours of standing in the same place or having to walk around all day on cold, hard floors. This takes its toll on our often most neglected part of the body – our feet.
We are often asked by our customers how we can help them overcome aches and strains at work. It’s not just the workers experiencing the pain that ask us either. Many managers running their own Butcher's Shop or Meat Market Stall come to us because they have an unhappy workforce or absenteeism issues as a result of foot pain.
The problem is that aching feet can be the precursor to other muscular-skeletal pains throughout the body. We make adjustments to the way we stand or walk due to foot pain and this can impact other areas of our body too. For this reason it is important to understand why the problem is occurring and ultimately take measures to nip the problem in the bud.
You’ll be pleased to know that the solution to aching feet can be very simple. Make sure you’re aware of the following factors and see what measures you can adopt to help keep you or your workers pain free:
Choose the right footwear:
The very least your feet deserve is shoes that are comfortable and of the correct fit. You should also make sure you wear shoes that are waterproof, as when you are cleaning down, the last thing you want is wet, soggy feet. Not only will your feet already be tired, but wearing wet shoes can make your feet itchy and sore which can lead to uncomfortable corns and blisters.
Go barefoot:
We all love the feeling that a pair of really comfortable shoes brings us, but when you get home take off your shoes and socks and give your feet chance to breathe, especially if they have been cooped up in wellingtons or work boots which could have caused your feet to sweat.
Flooring:
Standing or walking on a cold, hard floor all day is a major contributor to foot pain and muscular-skeletal pain in general. If you stand in the same place at a chopping block for most of the day, then it will make a major difference if you put down some appropriate matting in these areas.
This type of matting is often known as anti-fatigue matting and it is called this for good reason. The mats provide a cushioned surface that has far less of an impact on the feet and joints and they stimulate movement which increases the blood flow around the body. Choose matting with a flow-through design if you are worried about debris and offal making the mats a slip hazard.
Think of your posture:
If you’re standing in the same place all day and having to lean forward continually, whether it be over a chopping block or a serving counter, you are going to be putting additional stress on the balls of your feet. Ensuring your work station is positioned at the correct height can help to overcome this. Ideally you want to be standing tall and upright as much as possible whilst working. Pilates or physio therapy sessions can help teach you what the right posture for your body should be and how to practice sticking to it.
And finally…don’t ignore foot ache:
Don’t let foot problems grow larger by ignoring them. If necessary treat them with suitable creams depending on the condition or if the pain is acute use the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation).
As mentioned at the start of this article, if you ignore the problem you may be adjusting the way you are walking or standing which in turn may have a negative impact on other parts of your body.
If your workers are complaining of aches and pains at work, you may be falling foul of your health and safety obligations. Click on the link below for our 8 top tips for Health and Safety.
