The Solution Union Pacific asked the Safety Research Division of the Association of American Railroads to train its safety professionals to conduct ergonomic evaluations for manual material handling. To analyze tasks in the repair shop, Union Pacific involved its safety professionals, line managers and employees. Then, jobs were redesigned to reduce the risk of back injuries. Today tools and materials are stored off the ground between knee and shoulder height.
Employees now use winches and carts or dollies to lift heavy equipment.