Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a common reported source of missed or restricted work in America. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, WMSDs account for over 33% of all worker compensation costs.
The Effect of Work Position on Picking, Assembly, Packing and Shipping
May 14, 2020
by Scott Stone
Tags: workstations, ergonomics
Posted in Storage, Organization & Workstations|
Conveyors in Difficult Environments
May 2, 2019
by Scott Stone
Conveyors are essential for manufacturing operations, but in some areas where they are exposed to dust, airborne debris, moisture or chemicals, there may be issues with their mechanical components. These environmental factors impact performance, equipment lifespan, maintenance burdens and safety, but can be dealt with if the conveyor is properly designed, used and maintained. Let’s dive into these issues.
Tags: ergonomics, Manufacturing
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Dukes of Hazardous
February 26, 2019
For all the work that goes into preventing them, the majority of warehouses share many of the same safety hazards.
Due to the way warehouses handle items and process shipments, many of their workers are subject to similar risks for injury and product damage. While this can seem like an unending cycle of danger, there’s plenty of ways to mitigate these more prominent ones and keep everyone and everything in your warehouse safe from harm.
Tags: industrial safety, warehouse safety, ergonomics, facility safety
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
The Ergonomics of Flexible Conveyors
February 20, 2018
by Scott Stone
As we have covered previously, conveyors contribute to ergonomics in material handling operations by reducing repetitive lifts, twists, reaching and materials movement that may have been done by hand without them. Eliminating manual lifting and carrying reduces the chances for painful, expensive musculoskeletal injuries. It’s not about the once-in-a-while lift/carry. It’s about the same, repetitive motions over and over.
It’s important that your conveyor is configured correctly to make this work.
Tags: ergonomics, worker safety, loading docks
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
How to Use Conveyors to Increase Warehouse Ergonomics
December 7, 2017
by Scott Stone
Conveyors are ergonomic equipment by nature. They reduce manual lifting, pushing, pulling and stretching by delivering product to workers and reducing the stress of carrying or pushing it manually. Whether in a large integrated system or a spur of gravity, conveyors are great for reducing the number of people who engage in potentially dangerous activities that could cause musculoskeletal issues. Let’s dive into ways to be sure your conveyors are contributing to an ergonomic operation.
Tags: Safety & Ergonomics, ergonomics
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Improving Ergonomics in the Warehouse
November 28, 2017
With the rising costs of workers’ compensation insurance and global pressures to increase productivity, warehouse and distribution center managers are taking a much closer look at improving ergonomics. With as many as 65% of worker’s compensation claims associated with manual materials handling, insurance companies are raising their rates—or mandating ergonomic improvements for continued coverage.
Equipment suppliers are responding to the need, engineering and designing features into their products to help workers minimize the strains associated with lifting, reaching, twisting, pulling and pushing. These new product features can also help address the demand for increased productivity as well.
Tags: Material Handling, order fulfillment, warehouse safety, ergonomics, plant safety, Order Picking & Fulfillment, Safety & Ergonomics
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Ergonomics and Adjustable Workstations: A Guide
May 25, 2017
Adjustable workstations make operations like packing, picking, assembly and inspection safer, more comfortable and more productive because they easily let operators work in the ergonomic “golden zone” suitable for their own needs – the same station can be used by someone 6’4″ as someone 5/2″ on multiple shifts, or if the load or work varies in height, like multiple sized boxes or various motors that may be different sizes. These workbenches are adjustable, usually by crank or by powered switch or pushbutton. What might suit you best?
That said, having to utilize a crank to adjust the height is inherently counter to the fundamentals of ergonomics, and it’s slow. To combat this, consider electric adjustable workstations, which provide multiple advantages over their cranking counterparts.
Tags: forklift safety, Safety & Ergonomics, Warehouse Management, warehousing, warehouse, workstations, ergonomics, plant safety
Posted in Storage, Organization & Workstations|
Factors for Robotic Bag Palletizing Systems
March 2, 2017
by Scott Stone
Above: SAS Automation standardized bag-gripper
Palletizing is a standard material handling application for industrial robots, and bag palletizing is one of the most typical applications. Why? Because bag palletizing is simpler and easier than case palletizing. If your operation requires bag stacking/pallet loading – and you want to improve speed, reduce mistakes, and create a more ergonomic system, here are the things you need to know.
Tags: labor, ergonomics, Robotics
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
How to Solve the Ergonomic Problems of Floor-Level Carton Picking
September 27, 2016
by Scott Stone
When working with palletized goods stored at floor level beneath a rack beam in a typical warehouse, there are significant issues for order pickers who execute these tasks daily, including strains and stresses that can lead to major injuries, down time, and worker compensation expenses.
Tags: ergonomics, Safety & Ergonomics, rack bumper, rolling pallet, pallet truck, positioner
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Industrial Workstations: The Key to Improved Productivity in the Warehouse
April 19, 2016
by Scott Stone
Providing employees with a comfortable, ergonomic, and efficient workspace is a necessity in any picking, packing, assembly, inspection, quality control, manifesting or other industrial operations. A proper industrial workstation, tailored to the task and employee, goes a long way toward creating a healthier and more productive workspace and environment.
There are dozens of options for workstations, ranging from a simple bench to a more elaborate set up designed with the job in mind. Let’s take a look a few industrial workstations and their unique benefits.
Tags: workstations, ergonomics
Posted in Storage, Organization & Workstations|