SmartCells: The Key to Occupational Safety and Health for Mobile Workers

Construction worker on phone

Every hour, roughly 323 recordable cases of occupational injuries occur in the United States.

Beyond the immediate impact to the worker and company, these occupational accidents can have further implications for global business. Studies estimate that work days lost to occupational safety and health-related causes represent almost 4 percent of global GDP.

Considering the statistics, it is easy to see why investing in quality health and safety programs is critical to the success of the company.

These programs not only help reduce the risk of workplace injury; research has found that they also improve staff morale, reduce staff turnover, lower insurance premiums, and increase workplace productivity.

At SmartCells, we believe that Life Shouldn’t Hurt, and we specifically design products to keep standing and mobile workers comfortable, safe, and productive.

In fact, based on the results of a study on lost productivity conducted by The Journal of the American Medical Association, SmartCells can effectively reduce nearly 41% of the pain associated with lost productivity due to painful conditions. Over time that adds up to a lot of saved productivity and reduced costs.

Even better, an investment in a SmartCells Anti-Fatigue Solution is easy-to-implement. 

Here’s How SmartCells Help

The optimized design of SmartCells offer a stable surface over cylindrical cells which soften under impact and resist bottoming out. This creates the perfect balance of support and cushion, for maximum fatigue relief while minimizing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries; allowing users to stay safe and comfortable.

SmartCells Anti-fatigue solutions are available in pre-sized mats or as custom flooring for unique areas. Each SmartCells solution is specifically designed to relieve fatigue in standing activities, no matter what you’re doing.

Are you too mobile to benefit from SmartCells Anti-fatigue mats or flooring?

Our SmartCells Anti-fatigue Industrial Insole is the perfect solution for active people who are always on-the-go and in need of fatigue relief. Featuring SmartCells® Cushioning in the heel and forefoot, these insoles significantly reduce impact forces and also return the energy back to your body. The additional layers provide a cushioned arch support and add a soft yet sturdy top cover to keep every employee comfortable throughout the day.

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SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

SATECH, Inc. Plans to Provide Free Anti-Fatigue Mats to Healthcare Workers

Hospital worker

Today, SATECH, Inc. announced plans to provide free anti-fatigue mats to healthcare workers responding to COVID-19 across Western Washington.

At SmartCells we believe Life Shouldn’t Hurt, and in support of the many men and women on the front lines battling the spread of COVID-19 we wanted to support their health and safety. This is why we are opening up our inventory of anti-fatigue mat seconds, in 2×3 and 3×5 sizes, and offering them at no charge.

SATECH President Robert Bishop said: “Our heart goes out to every person affected by this disease– our front line healthcare workers have been phenomenal in their response. While first defense PPE has occupied the headlines, we are also concerned about the long term effect of what working and standing for extended periods of time under stressful conditions means for our front line workers, these conditions put them at greater risk for fatigue, injury, and potentially other musculoskeletal disorders.

SmartCells Anti-fatigue Technology is a proven effective way to reduce standing pain, impact, and overuse injuries in workers and we are proud to play a part in helping at this unprecedented time.” 

We have a limited supply of seconds inventory available for this program, to request your mat please:

  • Visit us on our website @ www.smartcellsusa.com/COVID-19support and fill out the online form
  • Or send us an email at info@smartcellsusa.com
    • Please add “SmartCells COVID-19 support” as the subject line
    • Include your
      • Full Name
      • Contact phone
      • Healthcare Organization
      • Shipping address
      • Size and quantity of the mat you prefer 2’x3’ or 3’x5’
      • We will do our best to accommodate the sizes and quantities requested.

About SATECH, Inc.: SATECH, Inc. manufacturers specialized cushioning technology under the SmartCells® brand. Since 1988, SmartCells Cushioning technology has been instrumental in the creation of safer work and play surfaces. Over time our objectives have become more specialized as we’ve expanded into a variety of custom applications where SmartCells technology can be tailored to best meet the needs of different industries. However, our mission has remained the same: improve people’s lives by helping to reduce pain, increase performance, and prevent injuries.

SmartCells Cushioning Technology Can Help Reduce Pain/Fatigue Associated with Being on Your Feet All Day

tired worker

Many people are required to be on their feet all day. As muscles become stiff or sore, standing for long periods is not only uncomfortable, but increases safety risks while reducing productivity and job satisfaction. There are many cushioning options to choose from on the market today, all promising to combat fatigue. However, unless buyers are educated in the science behind cushioning technology, most will likely make uninformed decisions, wasting money on ineffective options, that may be more fatiguing than fatigue-relieving.

SmartCells anti-fatigue solutions have been engineered to provide a balanced combination of properties designed to reduce standing worker fatigue and pain, improving the way workers feel and helping them be more productive.

The Soft and Squishy Fallacy

Traditional thinking is that a soft, squishy surface will help a worker feel the best when working on his or her feet. However, the published scientific literature does not support this notion, rather, cushioned standing surfaces should be stable and not too soft.

To understand better the right amount of softness, first consider an overly hard surface, like concrete, the opposite of an overly soft surface. Common sense and experience have taught us that standing on concrete is bad and creates pressure points that lead to excessive muscular activity as standing workers strive to relieve the unforgiving, concentrated pressure the ground forces exert on their body.

On the other hand, a material that is overly soft and compresses too easily can feel like it is too hard as it ‘bottoms-out’ when it is fully compressed. Many manufacturers providing thin overly soft foam or gel backings on mats make anti-fatigue claims thinking that the mere presence of such cushioning materials makes their mat an ‘anti-fatigue’ mat. These thin mats have very little height to compress and easily bottom out. In addition, some manufacturers seek to make overly soft materials thicker, erroneously believing that making such a material thicker will provide greater fatigue relief– if that were the case why not stand on a mattress all day? Clearly, overly thick or soft is not the right answer for relieving fatigue.

Overly soft and overly thick mats can affect worker stability, increasing fatigue and creating a greater trip hazard. A material that compresses to more than 50% of its thickness under a standing load will feel like it has ‘bottomed out’. Too much instability or too little cushioning results in muscular fatigue, often leading to pain and injury.

The Importance of Maintaining Stability

An unstable surface resulting from mats that are too soft creates fundamental problems for standing workers. An overly unstable surface causes the body to make many more subtle postural adjustments to maintain a balanced, upright position while performing work. This additional muscle activity accelerates fatigue levels and causes workers to become tired sooner than if they were on a more stable surface.

However, the scientific literature suggests that there is a slight amount of instability that is acceptable and results in a low level of muscle activity that aids blood flow through the body, while helping the worker achieve a comfortable stance.

A Balanced Approach

The optimum anti-fatigue surface provides a balanced design. A standing surface needs to not only provide a stable suface with a cushioning property but also provide some resilience or energy return. Too much cushioning, (shock absorption), can create an energy-draining sensation like standing or walking in sand, that is why the optimum standing surface must also provide an element of resilience, the ability to rebound without feeling too hard.  

The ability to provide a stable surface that cushions, without bottoming out, while providing the right amount of elasticity (resilience), provides an optimum condition for workers standing on their feet all day and results in a safe surface that provides the greatest feeling of relief from standing fatigue and pain.

SmartCells: The Optimum Solution

SmartCells Cushioning Technology is SATECH’s optimum solution for standing workers. SmartCells mats don’t impair the user’s balance. As weight shifts, these mats become softer, cushioning impact better. When weight is removed, SmartCells mats rebound back into place, providing energy return to the body. SmartCells’ patented design is based on an array of cylindrical rubber columns that compress, like springs, but re-direct impact force vectors laterally rather than back into the body, providing both a feeling of cushioning and an energizing responsiveness. SmartCells Cushioning Technology is raising the comfort bar for standing workers everywhere, helping to increase productivity and job satisfaction while helping to reduce standing pain and injuries.  

For more information on how to keep employees safely and comfortably on their feet, visit SmartCells today!

Spring Into Action with SmartCells Training & Therapy

Patient doing rehab exercises on smartcells physical therapy mat

With Spring quickly approaching people are anxious to get back outside after a long and cold Winter. However, a sizable piece of the population is finding tired and stiff joints are making it  harder to move like they used to.

According to the CDC there are roughly 30 million Americans that suffer from Osteoarthritis (OA). With that number on the rise, a recent study conducted by the APTA found that a good way to mitigate arthritis pain was through exercise-based approaches.

At SmartCells we believe that Life Shouldn’t Hurt, and we have the solutions to help physical therapists keep their patients healthy and their practice profitable. 

A Complete Solution

SmartCells Training & Therapy has a suite of products designed for physical therapists to protect themselves and their patients from impact-related pain. From training mats to performance insoles and custom orthotics, all products feature our patented SmartCells Cushioning Technology. The family of products (Zelus Insoles, Fastech orthotics, and SmartCells training mats) are optimized to reduce impact on joints and improve recovery for patients. Plus, our Physical Therapy mat offers fatigue relief for the practitioner.

The SmartCells Physical Therapy Mat benefits both therapist and patient by providing a comfortable, safe, and stable surface for recovery. It is also able to record consistent and accurate measurements without wasting resources applying tape to the ground to measure throughout the day. 

As an added bonus, our Physical Therapy mat also qualifies for an ADA tax credit with the implementation of our technology in your facility. With the family of products from our SmartCells Training & Therapy Division, there is now an opportunity to offer a complete solution for both your patients and your practice.

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

SmartCells for Medical Staff: The Solution to Industry Leading On-the-Job Injury Incidence Rates

Nurses and medical staff dedicate their careers to helping those who are sick or in pain, all while putting themselves at risk.

Beyond the increased risk of contracting an illness, due to the long hours spent on their feet checking on and moving patients, professionals in healthcare experience some of the highest rates of on-the-job injuries and illnesses. 

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017 the Healthcare and Social Assistance private industry sector led in number of reported non-fatal injuries on the job with a total of 548,100; followed by the manufacturing industry with 394,600.

At SmartCells, we believe that Life Shouldn’t Hurt, and we specifically design products to keep standing workers such as nurses and other medical staff comfortable and safe on-the-job.

Here’s how SmartCells Help:

The optimized design of our patented SmartCells offer a stable surface over cylindrical cells which soften under impact and resist bottoming out. This creates the perfect balance of support and cushion, for maximum fatigue relief while minimizing the risk of injury. This allows nurses and medical staff to stay safe and comfortable while providing excellent patient care.

In addition to our unique cushioning technology, thanks to their rubber-based formulation, SmartCells mats will not absorb liquid and are easy to clean which allows for better infection control processes.

SmartCells Cushioning is available in a variety of Anti-fatigue Solutions ranging in size from individual employee mats to extended workstation runners, and custom flooring applications. We even offer different colors, rubber formulations, and surface options to best meet your organization’s unique needs. All we need are your dimensions and we can build it for you.

We know that oftentimes nurses and other healthcare staff are simply too mobile to benefit from SmartCells Anti-fatigue mats or flooring. Which is why we’re proud to announce our all-new SmartCells Anti-fatigue Industrial Insole.

This insole is the perfect solution for active workers who are always on-the-go and in need of fatigue relief. Featuring SmartCells® Cushioning in the heel and forefoot, these insoles significantly reduce impact forces and also return the energy back to your body. The additional layers provide a cushioned arch support and add a soft yet sturdy top cover to keep every employee comfortable throughout the day.

Start a Project with Us

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

Can new shoes help reduce the risk of falling?

As we head into the Spring and Summer months, many of us are itching to spend more time doing outdoor activities. While staying active is an important part of keeping our mind, body, and soul healthy as we age, it can also increase our risk of experiencing a fall-related injury. 

One great way to safely prepare for outdoor activities is by investing in new and correct-fitting shoes, which is especially important for Seniors who are already at a higher risk of falling. To make matters worse, costs and ramifications associated with falling are not just a one. Just like the rest of our body, our feet age as well. This means that your feet change over time, and the shoes you have from ten years ago might not fit correctly any longer.  

If not addressed, poorly fitting shoes can cause arch pain, scrunched toes, heel pain, or even a fall. If the latter takes place, it can lead to a host of fall-related injuries including fractures, sprains, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, or even chronic pain. 

Safe footwear for aging adults means that you have a snug fit with a well-fitted toe box, and a low profile broad heel. Also, make sure that those shoes are easy enough to put on and take off without struggling. 

Although new shoes can help you, your loved ones, or a patient stay stable while continuing to live independently, it doesn’t mean a fall won’t happen. But when one does, SmartCells can be there for you. 

How SmartCells Cushioned Mats & Flooring Work:

Our SmartCells Fall Protection products provide a safe flooring solution that allows users to remain independent while providing peace of mind that they are protected should a fall occur. In a recent study, it was found that SmartCells provides a 43% reduction in the rate of both major and minor fall injuries. How?

The patented structure of SmartCells mats and flooring offers a stable surface that does not impair balance or gait, but cushions under the impact of a fall to effectively reduce up to 90% of the force of that fall. It is this unique ability to provide both stability and cushioning that makes SmartCells such an effective solution to help seniors avoid life-altering situations.  

At SmartCells, we believe that Life Shouldn’t Hurt. It is this belief that drives us to help solve life’s painful problems…because falls happen, but injuries don’t have to. 

Rapaport, L. (2019, July 5). Seniors may need new shoes to avoid pain, prevent falls. Retrieved from https://www.physiciansweekly.com/seniors-may-need-new/


Falls Happen. And They are Costly.

Falls are inevitable. And they can significantly affect your finances. The financial burden of falls in regards to medical costs, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, totals more than $50 billion annually.  That means about 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized due to a fall-related injury. That means, when broken down, one out of five falls can cause a serious injury resulting in hospitalization, typically a broken bone or a traumatic brain injury. 

To make matters worse, costs and ramifications associated with falling are not just a one-time deal, they often create lifelong ripples. In fact, most people who fall develop a fear of it happening again. This cognitive strain greatly impacts their mobility and independence to move around, which can result in the need to seek further care.

According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, an estimated median annual cost for hands-on, 24-hour senior care services is a whopping $183,960. As for the costs associated with private-room nursing communities, the average is roughly $100,375 annually. 

Here at SATECH, Inc., we know that falls are going to happen, but we believe that injuries don’t have to. Our goal is to help your facility or loved-one take action and proactively seek out a solution before a costly fall occurs. This is why we have engineered a highly-effective cushioned flooring technology for preventing fall-related injuries. 

Our SmartCells Technology is optimized to be both stable AND cushioned. The patented design provides a supportive surface that won’t impair balance or gait, but that also gets softer under impact to reduce up to 90% of the force related to a fall. This creates the perfect balance of support and cushion for more independence and a minimized risk of fall-related injuries. 

We believe that Life Shouldn’t Hurt. That goes for your family and financial stability.

SmartCells Training & Therapy Pays Tribute to Kobe Bryant

Great athletes are recognized because of their ability to push the physical boundaries of what is possible in their sport. Coaches need to teach players how to think, and provide them with the right tools to be successful. In the wake of Kobe Bryant’s tragic accident it’s his type of mentality that must live on in athletics.

This is one reason why SmartCells is teaming up with the Art of Coaching, to bring together the best coaches with the best products to keep players healthy throughout the season.

“Good coaches… teach you how to think and arm you with the fundamental tools necessary to execute properly.” -Kobe Bryant, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play

Here’s How SmartCells Helps:

SmartCells Training & Therapy has a suite of products designed to protect and help athletes. From training mats to performance insoles and orthotics, all products feature our patented SmartCells Cushioning Technology, which is optimized to reduce impact forces when landing and return energy. 

Our unique technology has been trusted by over 40 leading volleyball programs at the collegiate, club, and high school levels, including multiple NCAA Champions. Each team invests in athlete health, safety, and performance and wants an edge over their rivals. 

SmartCells Volleyball mats offer unique solutions to reduce impact when landing during drills; making practice smarter and safer.

SmartCells Training & Therapy is excited to partner with the Art of Coaching to improve the game of Volleyball. Their elite coaching, together with our suite of training mats and performance insoles, can help programs keep their players healthy throughout the season.  

Investing in safety is now even more affordable with our Volleyball Fundraising program, where your team can earn a SmartCells mat by selling Zelus Insoles. 

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

Study Suggests Alleviating Musculoskeletal Pain Could Reduce Risk of Chronic Disease

A 2018 study conducted by BMC Medicine concluded that musculoskeletal conditions may increase the risk of chronic disease.

The study, which performed a meta-analysis of 13 cohort studies that followed nearly 3.1 million people, showed that those with musculoskeletal conditions were 17% more likely to develop a chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Considering this statistically significant finding, it is important for people to take the necessary precautions to reduce their risk of developing a chronic disease.

One great way to do so is through alleviating musculoskeletal injuries by utilizing SmartCells Anti-fatigue cushioning technology in your daily routines.

Here’s how SmartCells Helps:

We believe that “Life Shouldn’t Hurt”™. This belief guided us to engineer our unique SmartCells™ Cushioning Technology.

The optimized design of SmartCells offer a stable surface over cylindrical cells which soften under impact and resist bottoming out. This creates the perfect balance of support and cushion, for maximum fatigue relief while minimizing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries; allowing users to stay safe and comfortable.

SmartCells Anti-fatigue solutions are available in pre-sized mats or as custom flooring for unique areas. Each SmartCells solution is specifically designed to relieve fatigue in standing activities, no matter what you’re doing.

Are you too mobile to benefit from SmartCells Anti-fatigue mats or flooring?

We’re proud to announce our all-new SmartCells Anti-fatigue Industrial Insole.

This insole is the perfect solution for active people who are always on-the-go and in need of fatigue relief. Featuring SmartCells® Cushioning in the heel and forefoot, these insoles significantly reduce impact forces and also return the energy back to your body. The additional layers provide a cushioned arch support and add a soft yet sturdy top cover to keep every employee comfortable throughout the day.

Order Your SmartCells Solution Today

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

What Is The Difference Between Fall Prevention And Injury Prevention?

Throughout the winter months,  icy conditions seem to spark an increase in conversations regarding slip and fall prevention, reminding people about how dangerous a fall can be.  No matter where falls occur, the outcome is typically more serious for the elderly and can easily result in a life-changing event. 

There are many great tips that can be found regarding fall prevention but the reality is that in spite of all these precautions, falls still occur. Considering this, the conversation needs to broaden to include not just fall prevention, but injury prevention.

The statistics regarding senior citizen falls are staggering. According to the National Council on Aging, every 15 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 29 minutes, an older adult dies as a result of a fall. Falls are the number one cause of fatal injuries amongst our elderly.

So, what is the difference between fall prevention and fall-injury prevention?

The difference is SmartCells. We understand that it’s not a matter of just preventing falls but rather, when the fall happens, how do we prevent the risk of serious injury and all the other ripple effects from such injuries. That is why we have created SmartCells cushioning technology.  The unique SmartCells structure provides users with a stable standing and walking surface that will not impair balance, while at the same time providing significant cushioning if a fall does occur.

Research indicates a substantial reduction in fall-related injuries such as fractures, contusions, and skin tears when using SmartCells cushioning solutions. 

Available in pre-sized or custom area mats, and complete wall-to-wall applications, our cushioned flooring solutions take the guesswork out of fall protection. SmartCells give you peace of mind knowing your loved one is safe, while enabling them to age with dignity and independence by reducing the risk and fear of a serious fall injury.

In addition, SmartCells does not absorb liquids which virtually eliminates any infection control risk. 

SmartCells Fall Protection flooring solutions can be used as a standalone system or a cushioned subfloor under sheet vinyl or carpet tiles, providing many design options for any living space.

Falls happen. Injuries don’t have to. SmartCells will be there for your patient or  loved one when you can’t be.