HUMAN FACTORS & ERGONOMICS


STANDING CHARGE


COBA explores the hidden business cost that’s missing from your balance sheet.


Most businesses know exactly what it costs when a machine stops. Downtime is measured. Energy consumption is monitored. Equipment maintenance is planned months in advance. But one of the biggest operational costs rarely appears on a report – standing.


Every day, thousands of workers spend hours on their feet to keep production lines moving, warehouses operating and orders leaving on time. Yet the physical impact of prolonged standing, and the cost it has on productivity, is often overlooked.


THE HIDDEN COST OF STANDING


Standing might seem like a normal part of the job, but the long-term impact tells a different story.


According to the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips, trips and falls on the same level account for 30% of all employer-reported non-fatal workplace injuries, making them the most common reported workplace injury in Great Britain.


However, not every workplace issue results in an accident report. Fatigue develops gradually. Employees become less comfortable. Concentration declines. Physical strain increases. Productivity is affected long before someone takes time off work or reports an injury.


COBA’s latest research, conducted with OnePoll among 1,000 non-office workers who stand for at least four hours each day, found that 48% had taken time off work in the previous 12 months due to standing-related health issues. Nearly half (46%) experienced lower back pain, while more than a third (34%) reported a negative impact on their mental wellbeing. These aren’t simply wellbeing statistics; they’re business performance indicators.


LOOKING BEYOND ABSENTEEISM


The cost of standing isn’t limited to sick leave. Workers experiencing discomfort are more likely to become distracted, move less efficiently and experience reduced physical performance throughout the working day.


Chartered Physiotherapist Connor Ruffinato explains that prolonged standing requires muscles to work continuously to maintain posture against gravity. Over time, this constant effort can lead to muscle fatigue, joint stiffness and musculoskeletal problems, particularly when movement is limited.


For businesses, these effects often go unnoticed because they don’t appear on a maintenance report or financial dashboard. Yet they influence productivity every day.


DESIGNING WORKPLACES THAT SUPPORT PERFORMANCE


Forward-thinking organisations are increasingly recognising that improving workplace performance isn’t only about investing in machinery. It’s also about investing in the people operating it.


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Simple improvements to the working environment can help reduce unnecessary strain, improve comfort and support safer movement throughout the day. Anti- fatigue matting can help reduce the effects of prolonged standing at fixed workstations, while anti-slip matting, entrance matting and cable management solutions all contribute to creating safer, more efficient workplaces.


The difference can be significant. Four out of five workers (82%) who had used anti-fatigue mats in COBA Europe’s research said they found them helpful, demonstrating that relatively simple interventions can make a meaningful difference to comfort and wellbeing.


MEASURING WHAT REALLY MATTERS


Businesses routinely measure machine performance, equipment reliability and operational efficiency.


Perhaps it’s time to start measuring the impact of standing, too.


At COBA, we believe workplace safety and productivity go hand in hand. That’s why we’ve invested in original research, partnered with ergonomics experts and developed practical tools, including our ROI Calculator, to help organisations understand the hidden cost of standing and make informed decisions about workplace improvements.


Because sometimes the biggest operational cost isn’t the one you can see on your balance sheet. It’s the one that’s standing in front of it.


www.coba.com


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