This task consists of both the dumper and the cutter tasks. Two employees work at this task. One unloads a 100 pound bag from the pallet, places it on the floor and cuts strings which hold the bag shut. The other lifts the opened bag from the floor to a shelf on the hopper and empties it into the hopper.
Employees switch positions throughout the shift.
Pallets of potatoes are brought to the unloading site by a pallet truck. The rate calculated from the information supplied by the compliance officer indicates that between 440 to 550 bags of potatoes are lifted per day. If each employee splits the lifting responsibilities this is about 250 lifts per day of 100 pound bags to the hopper and another 250 lifts per day of about 50 to 100 pounds to transport the bags of potatoes from the pallet to the floor. Lifting 100 pound bags of materials while in this posture is extremely hazardous and is consistent with the development of low back injuries such as muscle strain and disk herniation. The workstation should be modified to reduce or eliminate torso flexion and repeated lifting of the arms.