Often the load conveyor is full and when this happens packages are stacked onto the floor next to the conveyor. The packages are then moved from the floor to the load conveyor when additional space has been created by moving some of the packages into the delivery truck. The main conveyor is at about waist height and the roller conveyors appear to be 6 to 12 inches higher at about mid-chest height. Packages are scanned at a rate of about 35 per minute and loaders lift boxes from the main conveyor to the loading conveyor at a rate of about 4 per minute. Packages range in weight from 2 to 78 pounds.
Employees appear to stand for the duration of the task.
Evaluation of this task indicates that employees are exposed to the ergonomic stressors of repeated and sustained ulnar wrist deviation while exerting finger force, and repeated and sustained abduction of the arm out and away from the torso to operate the pistol-grip hand held scanners. Employees scan up to 2100 packages per hour, with most packages aligned such that the elbow must be raised to shoulder height and the wrist severely deviated. These ergonomic stressors are likely to cause Musculoskeletal Disorders of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. Reorient the majority of the packages placed on the conveyor such that the labels are facing towards the employee performing the scanning operation. The label must be in a vertical orientation for a pistol grip scanner to be used safely.