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January 27, 2010
By: CartPro
Category: Material Handling, Products, Safety and Ergonomics, ergonomics
Some people think all material handling equipment is the same. They may notice that handles, controls, wheels, beds, connectors and other features differ from model to model but they don’t realize that even small differences in design can have a huge impact on how hard or easy a piece of material handling equipment is to use and whether it is likely to injure operators or minimize the risk of injury. Those small differences can add up to huge financial savings when material handling equipment is ergonomically designed to maximize ease of use and minimize risk of injury.
Workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses more than $60 billion annually and affect more than 1.75 million workers each year. A single back injury, which account for 50% of worker’s compensation claims, can cost a business $26,000 in time-lost costs. Utilizing ergonomically-designed material handling equipment to take the strain off workers’ backs during pushing, pulling and lifting activities can result in immediate savings.
When material handling equipment is ergonomically designed, every aspect of the piece of equipment and how it will be used is taken into consideration. Because workers come in all shapes and sizes, ergonomic engineers must consider a wide range of factors in designing equipment so that it can be comfortably used by a varied workforce. As you might expect, ergonomics addresses major design features such as the height of load beds, cart depths, angle of access, force requirements and other macro-design elements.
However, small, repetitive actions like twisting a handle often tax muscles and result in repetitive motion musculoskeletal injuries. Ergonomic engineers strive to address every element of equipment design from the width and angle of hand grips to the placement and shape of control buttons to the size and type of wheel. For more information on ergonomically-designed material handling equipment, visit the DJ Products website.
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July 27, 2009
By: CartPro
Category: Material Handling, Safety and Ergonomics, ergonomics
Musculoskeletal injuries caused by overexertion are responsible for 25% of all workplace injuries and affect one in every 200 workers, according to data compiled by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Overexertion injuries caused by straining during pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying tasks cost U.S. businesses more than $1 billion in compensation costs and 12 million lost workdays every year. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance, more than 50% of worker’s compensation claims are for debilitating back injuries that affect 1.75 million (1 in 5) workers each year — at an annual price tag of $30 billion. The time-lost cost of a single back injury is estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at $26,000.
Ergonomic equipment is designed to eliminate and prevent muscle strain, overexertion, back injury and the whole gamut of musculoskeletal and repetitive motion injuries that eat away at U.S. business profit margins. Ergonomically-designed equipment reduces the risk of overexertion and injury from pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, bending and twisting tasks. The equipment, not the worker, carries the burden, eliminating expensive medical, insurance, worker’s compensation and lost work-hour expenses. When workers are less physically tasked and workplace safety is increased, worker morale improves, production increases and product quality goes up.
One study of U.S. manufacturers found that every dollar invested in ergonomics resulted in a savings of $4. DJ Products, a national leader in the manufacture of ergonomically-designed carts and movers, has found that most customers recoup their investment in ergonomic equipment within the first year. DJ Products specialized in providing affordable ergonomic solutions to material handling applications. We manufacture material handling equipment that is designed to eliminate the strain and pain of manually pushing or pulling heavy carts, equipment or materials. Our ergonomically-designed equipment is smaller, more maneuverable and less costly than traditional material handling equipment such as forklifts, walkies and motorized riding tugs. DJ Products specializes in battery powered, walk behind carts, movers and pushers that offer maximum safety and maneuverability. If you’re looking to get better value from your material handling dollar, contact DJ Products’ expert ergonomic sales team today!
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July 20, 2009
By: CartPro
Category: ergonomics
In the world of ergonomics sometimes words are used that may make no sense to the people who actually will benefit the most from knowing them. As a result we’ve listed several terms that may help you understand ergonomics and how it can impact your workplace.
Here’s our top ten list of commonly used ergonomic terms:
1. CTDs or Cumulative Trauma Disorders - here an injury is caused by repeated trauma over time to a specific body part. Several occupational disorders you may recognize might be carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, mouse finger, or even mouse arm and even lower back pain.
2. MSD or Muscular Skeletal Disorder – here an injury is of the muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, and even cartilage. Some disorders you may recognize that fit into this category might be a rotator cuff injury, carpel tunnel again, and tension neck syndrome.
3. NIOSH – this stands for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH is the institution that provides data on which OSHA bases its safety recommendations to businesses.
4. RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury
5. RMI - Repetitive Motion Injury
6. UECTD - Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders
7. WRULD - Work Related Upper Limb Disorder
8. OSHA 200 Log – This is the OSHA required log book that employers must use to notate and classify all work related injuries.
9. WMSD, WRMSD – this stands for work related musculoskeletal disorders. This term covers many of the previously mentioned work related stresses to the human body that can damage muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
10. Anthropometry – this is a branch of science that deals with body measurement. Much of ergonomics is actually based on the typical body measurements and reflected in tool controls and positioning found from anthropometry.
You can view the full list of terms and more at Erogweb if you want to know more about ergonomics.
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