Ergonomics is an underutilized safety and productivity tool
April 6, 2021
by
Don Patten
Don Patten is a registered kinesiologist, a Canadian certified professional ergonomist, Canadian registered safety professional, and a member of the Association of Canadian Ergonomists. He is a published author who volunteers his time for ergonomics-related endeavours.
With COVID-19 fuelling explosive growth in e-commerce, now is the time to consider the role of ergonomics in machine/robotics safety programs. Otherwise, your workplace may be missing out on significant benefits.
Ergonomics and machine/robotics safety programs are not competing, as some workplaces may believe, but work in tandem to make the workplace safer and more productive, especially as warehouses and distribution centres try to keep up with the rapid growth in e-commerce. These changes may take the form of designing and introducing more productive equipment, machinery and processes. Collaborative robots are just one example.
Designing and introducing machines and robotic systems that meet the strengths of the people who operate them, which is what ergonomics is all about, can eliminate errors that may lead to injuries and costly downtime.
I can’t overemphasize the importance of carrying out a risk assessment before modifying an existing system, designing a new process or purchasing new equipment. The assessment will help you identify and control ergonomic and machine hazards. Otherwise, you may be laying the groundwork for acute injuries and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which can be costly to manage and result in lost time and productivity.
MSDs aren’t the only concern when ergonomic principles are not considered as part of a machine/robotics safety program. There is also greater potential for acute injuries. By ignoring ergonomics, workplaces may be reducing risk in one area, but increasing it in another.
Consider the potential consequences of not taking ergonomic considerations into account, after a worker removes a cumbersome conveyor guard because it gets in the way of completing a task.
During a risk assessment, you should consider all minor tasks (i.e. non-maintenance tasks) that are part of a machine’s intended operation. This ensures that safeguarding solutions protect workers from machine hazards while allowing access to necessary areas, and permit tasks to be carried out in an ergonomically sound manner.
Now consider a situation in which a high volume of goods has led to pallet loads left in aisles, forcing pickers to bend and reach around these pallets to access goods on racks.
Having to lift heavy items while reaching and twisting puts these pickers at high risk of MSDs. More effective inventory and storage practices can prevent injuries, keep aisles clear, and maximize productivity.
Download a free MSD hazards checklist. Visit http://wsps.news/MSDchecklist.
Watch a pre-recorded webinar on CSA-Z434-14, industrial robots and robot systems. Visit http://wsps.news/robotsafety.