Production Ergonomics

LINAK.COM/TECHLINE

Poor Ergonomics can cost your company dearly

US$15-20bn. That is what ergonomics-related injuries cost Americanbusinesses in compensation every year according to the the US Departmentof Labor (OSHA).

The typical culprits are lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead,pushing and pulling heavy loads, repetitive movement to perform similartasks, and generally working in awkward postures. Also sedentary work caninfluence ergonomics negatively.

The bureau statistics shows, that such injuries accounted for 380.600
days away from work cases in 2013. That is one-third of the total numberof called-in days absent. Furthermore, employee’s suffering from poorergonomics has an average of 11 sick days a year. Other work-related injuries
account for only 8 per employee on average.

As an employer it is your responsibility to ensure workers stay safe, to avoid
loss of productivity, and to keep costs of occupational illness and injuries to aminimum.
That is why Production Ergonomics also matters to you!

A broad variety of industries suffer from poor ergonomics. Frommanufacturing, agriculture, and construction, to transportation, warehousing,and even healthcare, and entertainment/recreation.

5 obvious benefitsof ergonomics:• Reduces costs• Improves productivity• Improves quality• Improves employeeengagement• Creates a better safety culture2

5 ergonomic trends:• Being proactive• Integrating the process• Engaging others• Moving upstream• Addressing the office

Musculoskeletal disorders you can avoid

Ergonomics is all about fitting a job to your employee. Improved ergonomics
helps lessen muscle fatigue and in many cases avoid musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs).

The MSDs typically comprise of bone, joint and muscle problems affecting theneck, shoulders, arms, hands, or spine.

20.1% of all reported workrelated health problems
account for bone, joint or muscle problems affecting
the shoulders, neck, arms and hands

29.5% of all reported work-related health problems
account for bone, joint or muscle problems affecting
the back3

How to use your workstation

95 - 120 cm

Purchasing adjustable workstations is a good idea, if you want to improveergonomics. However, it literally cannot stand alone. A thorough risk
assessment of the workplace needs to precede the purchase to help you
clarify precisely what type of solution your employees need.
The second part is teaching the employees how to use the adjustableworkstation correctly. There are a few guidelines to start with.

95 - 120 cm

85 - 110 cm

85 - 110 cm

65 - 95 cm

Nitty-gritty precision work is usually done close to the body and relatively
close to the employee’s eyes. This means the tabletop needs to be quite
elevated. Assembly work is often a more speedy process requiring a bit more
space to move the arms, while heavier workloads require a lower table tominimise the weight to lift, push or pull by the worker.

Precision work
e.g. electronic assembly
about 5 cm above
elbow heightLight work
e.g. assembly line
about 5-10 cm below
elbow height

Basic principles for standing work

95 - 120 cm• The human is built for movement, so change working positions
frequently. Changing body positions improves blood supply tothe muscles and helps reduce overall fatigue. It also distributes
the load more equally on different parts of the body, reducing
strain on individual muscles and joints used to maintain theupright position.
• Pace work appropriately• Ensure suitable rest periods

4

Heavy workhigh downward forces
about 20-40 cm
below elbow heightVery rarereaches

15 cm

The risk assessment will also help disclose what tasks are the most frequently
performed by each employee. To minimise the strain on arms, shoulders, neckand back these repetitive tasks and associated movements should be limited
to the area right in front of the employee.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety created a few rulesof thumb to explain how to arrange work at the workstation. Needless to say,adjustable workstations will help you align with these rules and surely makeyour employees happier.

45° headrot
ationUsualwork

25 cm

50 cm

Occational
work

Rules of thumb:• Always face the object of work
• Keep the body close to the work
• Organise the work so frequent operations are done withinclose reach• Avoid reach above or behind the shoulder line
• Avoid extreme bending, stretching and twisting• Elbow support for precision work helps reduce tension in theupper arm and neck5Workstation

6

Adjustment solutions

DL2

DL2

CBD6S

DP

Other lifting column solutions

LP2

BL17

Adjustment solutions

BL1

CBD6S

Other lifting column solutions

LP2

8

DL2

DPF w. display

Conveyor belt

9Workstation

Reduce the strain that is put on
the back, neck and shoulders byadjusting the workstation to theindividual worker.

Product suggestions: DL2

LP2

BL1

Product suggestions: LA36

LA35

LA25

Product suggestions: LA36

LA25

Platform

Create a good working environmentand higher employee satisfaction
simply by making the production
machine easier to reach.
Adjustment of the platform
to the worker’s height
is your solution.

LiftReduce heavy lifting, and withit the risk of back injury. Use an
automated lifting solution.

10

Conveyor belt

Improve the reach of the worker
and thus the efficiency at theproduction line by heightadjusting the conveyor belt.

Product suggestions: DL2

LP2

Product suggestions: LA36

LA23

Product suggestions: DL1A

DL2

BL1

Scissor lift

Avoid awkward working positions
and reduce the need to reachbeyond the comfort zone.
Extendor retract the deck ona scissor lift for easy reach.

Trolley

Make it easy to move items for
production, and avoid awkward
postures and heavy lifting withheight adjustment of the trolley.

DL5

BL111

For further information, please visit our website:

LINAK.COM/SEGMENTS/TECHLINE/TECH-TRENDS/PRODUCTION-ERGONOMICS/

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