In short: No, but their use may be necessary to comply with other legal obligations related to employee welfare.
While there is no specific UK law stating that anti fatigue mats must be used, several key health and safety regulations place a legal duty on employers to protect their employees from discomfort and injury—particularly in roles involving prolonged standing.
Relevant UK Legislation Supporting the Use of Anti-Fatigue Mats
1. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
This overarching legislation requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees. 🔗 Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – Legislation.gov.uk
2. Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
This regulation outlines specific duties regarding the physical workplace. Regulation 12 states that floors must be:
“suitable, in good condition and free from obstructions.” 🔗 Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 – Regulation 12
Many workplaces still expect employees to spend long hours standing on hard floors all day, such as in manufacturing, commercial kitchens, and retail environments. These conditions contribute to discomfort, fatigue, and even chronic health issues. Employers are expected to consider ergonomic solutions—like anti-fatigue matting—to reduce these risks.
We’ve done a survey on the 1000 non-office workers in the UK and 82% of workers agree that anti-fatigue mats can assist with workplace fatigue
3. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
This regulation places a legal requirement on employers to carry out risk assessments and implement measures to reduce identified risks to employees.
🔗 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Legislation.gov.uk
If such assessments identify risks such as fatigue in the workplace, control measures like anti-fatigue mats may become essential to maintain compliance and protect employee wellbeing.
Moral vs Legal Responsibility
It is morally questionable to expect employees to endure long periods of standing on cold, hard concrete without any intervention. These environments quickly lead to fatigue, discomfort, and long-term musculoskeletal issues. Although the law doesn’t explicitly require anti fatigue mats, their use is a reasonable and practical control measure that helps employers meet their duty of care.
Summary– Are anti-fatigue mats required by law in the UK?
Not explicitly. However, employers must:
- Minimise foreseeable risks to health.
- Provide a safe and suitable working environment.
- Act on the findings of workplace risk assessments.
In environments where prolonged standing is the norm, and where issues like standing on hard floors all day and fatigue in the workplace are known risks, anti fatigue solutions are a practical, compliant, and ethical solution.
