How Smart Lifting Solutions Reduce the Risk of Injuries and Increase Productivity
Lifting heavy objects increases the risk of injuries and work-related musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain. Smart lifting solutions help employees avoid these hazards while also increasing productivity.
For example, electric hydraulic work positioners can lift, rotate and tilt bulky and heavy materials. This allows employees to keep the lifted object close to their body, keeping their spine aligned naturally and reducing strain.
Ergonomics
When employees manually lift heavy loads, they put significant strain on muscles, nerves, blood vessels and ligaments. Over time, this excessive stress can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including back injuries. These workplace injuries are costly for businesses – in workers’ compensation claims, lost productivity and training costs.
To avoid MSDs, companies can introduce ergonomic lifting devices to their facilities and training programs. A variety of off-the-shelf and custom-engineered devices are available to lift heavy bags, bottles and containers from ground level to shoulder height or higher. They can also be used to position or rotate items that are at floor or ceiling height.
For example, an intelligent lifting device (ILD) eliminates the need to bend or stoop by providing a powered lift or tilt function. This allows workers to pick and place heavier items WORKMATES lifting equipment at elbow height, which reduces the risk of injuries from bending and stooping.
In addition, a pneumatic container unloading system can save workers the effort of climbing ladders to empty heavy bags of fertilizer or chemicals by placing these bags at a lower elevation that is easy to reach. These lifting tools allow a larger percentage of the workforce to safely perform these tasks with fewer risks of injury. This improves worker morale and increases operational efficiency. In addition, these ergonomic devices are able to move and manipulate more items within the same amount of time, which increases productivity.
Safety
For employees to operate lifting equipment safely they need to have the right training and understand how to use it properly. This includes following the manufacturer’s instructions for operation and additional guidance from their employer, being aware of load weight restrictions and checking the equipment regularly for damage or deterioration.
One of the biggest safety risks while operating lifting equipment is that loads could fall on workers when moving or WORKMATES lifting equipment stowing them. This can be avoided by making sure that no worker is standing under the load and staying away (at a safe distance) from it while moving or stowing it. It is also important to ensure that all workers are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment for working with lifting equipment, such as gloves and back support belts.
It is also important to establish a clear system for communication and coordination between workers when performing lifting operations. This can help prevent accidents caused by miscommunication or confusion. It is also important to ensure that all of your workers are familiar with the correct stowing procedures for their equipment and have access to clear information and prompts about these. This will reduce the risk of sprains and strains when storing or retrieving heavy equipment. This will make work more ergonomic for your workers and increase productivity because they can perform the same task without getting tired as quickly.
Efficiency
From relamping a gymnasium to repairing building facades, maintenance departments often use aerial work platforms. These self-contained systems enable departments to bundle cranes and hoists into a fully integrated unit that delivers all the equipment they need at once, reducing shipping hassles and costs.
Purchasing lifting equipment may seem like an unnecessary expense, but it will save money in the long run. For example, a production site with a task that involves emptying 120 flour bags into a mixer every hour can perform the task more ergonomically using a vacuum lifter to reduce workers’ body strain and fatigue and improve productivity. An owner who invests in this smart equipment avoids expensive worker’s compensation expenses and deductibles, and improves his or her bottom line..
Maintenance
Creating and following an inspection plan that includes regular maintenance, lubrication, and testing can prevent problems with lifting equipment. These plans reduce downtime, improve safety, and extend the lifespan of the equipment.
During an inspection, the first step is to visually inspect the equipment for any visible damage or signs of wear and tear. Once the visual inspection is complete, it’s time to perform a functional inspection. This includes checking that the hoist moves smoothly in all directions, that the brakes securely hold the load, and that all limit switches work properly.
The next step is to record the results of the thorough examinations and report them to the department that owns or uses the equipment. The person who receives these reports must have a clear procedure in place for taking equipment out of use immediately if necessary.
Before storing any lifting equipment, it must be thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt and debris that could cause corrosion and damage to critical parts. Once it’s dry, a good idea is to apply a layer of protective oil or grease on all moving parts. Finally, it’s a good idea to store the equipment in a designated storage area that’s clean, dry, and free of hazards. With a fully integrated approach to material handling, WORKMATES offers a superior solution for the most demanding work environments.
