No platform is provided to elevate shorter employees. This time includes passing the merchandise in front of the scanner, weighing items and keying in prices and quantities of goods. Actions performed on the computer keyboard require the use of shoulder flexions at or in excess of 90 degrees. Performing repeated shoulder flexions and abductions stresses the shoulder and pulling the tendons over the boney and ligamental structures found there. These motions increase the risk of chronic injuries such as tendinitis and bursitis, and acute injury such as muscles strain and sprain to the shoulder and upper back.
All stations appear to be aligned in the same orientation.
This forces all checkers to perform the task in the same way at all times. Since cumulative trauma problems are by definition cumulative in nature, work stations that provide no alternative methods of operation increase the risk of development of injuries whose cause stems from the repetitive nature of the job. The anti-fatigue mats in use at the Commissary appear to be rather spongy, rubber coated low density foam, and easily compressible. Mats that are too compressible allow the heal to sink down into the mat padding and essentially creates another hard surface onto which the heel comes into contact. This can create a contact trauma to the heel and also allows the heel to sink down lower than the ball of the foot which can stretch the calf muscle.