Employees in the Play House trimming jobs, as well as other trimming jobs performed on similar large pieces, must repeatedly lift, turn, move, tilt, and hold large work objects. While the weight is unknown it appears that the items are relatively heavy and extremely bulky and cumbersome. They require elevated and extended reaches as well as torso flexions to access work points and the opportunity for tipping and falling creates unexpected and awkward force exertion possibilities. Because of their size, weight, and propensity for requiring unexpected force exertions, working on them increases the risk of developing MSDs such as low back injury, general muscle strain, sprain, and shoulder tendon injury. Investigate the possibility of providing a manipulator for employees such as those in the Playhouse area who must constantly lift, move, turn, and adjust the very large pieces that they are working on.
Manipulators hold the piece and allow the employee to turn and move it with little exertion.
Manipulators can be floor mounted or suspended from the ceiling. They have movement possibilities in all 3 axis. This should not be taken as a recommendation for the products produced by these companies, but they could provide an initial contact to see if an appropriate product could be developed for this application. Some of the pieces which are trimmed, such as the windshields appear to require significantly more work with the knife and higher hand forces with the scrapper. In addition, they require several different hand postures to access all the varied angles and crevices which must be cleaned.