How WORKMATES Lifting Equipment Can Reduce the Risk of Back Injuries
Using proper lifting techniques can minimize the risk of back injuries. This includes keeping the load close to the body, using both legs and not twisting. Dollys and hand trucks can also help reduce the amount of weight that workers must lift.
Lifting tables and platforms are primarily used to elevate materials for work at heights. They must be inspected regularly to ensure they meet safety standards.
Ergonomic design
A significant portion of injuries in the workplace involve lifting and positioning heavy objects. Such injuries can cause debilitating musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and result in costly workers compensation claims and lost productivity. Employers can significantly reduce their MSD risk by implementing ergonomic improvements and training employees on proper body mechanics.
Ergonomic improvements can make heavy lifting and moving of large, bulky items easier, increasing worker efficiency. They can also help reduce the number of repetitive stress injuries that can occur when workers repeatedly perform the same task. These injuries are a major contributor to lost work time and often require lengthy periods of rehabilitation.
In addition to improving employee safety, ergonomic design can reduce facility operating costs. Work-related injuries can have a significant impact on business profit, including expenses for direct payouts, missed work hours, and the cost of hiring and training new employees. Injuries from manual lifting can be prevented with the right equipment and facility layout, which allows workers to move loads at their elbow height instead of bending down or climbing up and down.
Applied Handling Systems offers a wide range of ergonomic lifting equipment designed to maximize factory output. We represent the Autoquip line of scissor lift tables, vertical freight lifts and dock lifts, as well as Gorbel G-Force lifting devices. The G-Force lifting device is worn by the operator, and provides natural lifting power, as if it were an extension of their arms. This WORKMATES lifting equipment lifting device can be quickly and easily fine-tuned to meet the specific needs of your operation.
Safety features
The safety of workers using lifting equipment is of the utmost importance. Accidents that occur during these operations can cause serious injuries and expensive delays in project completion. They may also cause costly damage to the environment that can be difficult or impossible to recoup. Fortunately, it’s possible to reduce the risk of these accidents by taking the necessary precautions and following health and safety guidelines.
The first step is to ensure that the equipment is safe for use by checking all of its features. In addition, workers should be trained to identify and avoid risks while operating the equipment. This includes avoiding extreme temperatures, which can impact muscle flexibility and increase the risk of accidents.
Another safety precaution is to ensure that the load is evenly distributed and not overloaded. Overloading can put unnecessary stress on the equipment and cause it to fail, leading to injuries and property damage. It is also important to keep a distance from the load during lifting operations to prevent injuries if something goes wrong.
Lastly, all workers must be well-versed in emergency procedures to ensure that they respond quickly and effectively in an emergency situation. This includes knowing how to shut down the equipment and evacuating the area when necessary. It is also crucial for workers to know how to inspect their lifting equipment and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how often they should do this.
Reliable operation
Many accidents occur due to equipment that breaks down or fails to work properly. Reliability reduces the WORKMATES lifting equipment need to put maintenance personnel in harm’s way when they must go to a ladder, confined space or working hot to fix faulty equipment. It also reduces line lag and the time it takes for workers to change over jobs.
The WORKMATE exoskeleton is a system of upper arm and back cuffs connected to a gear box that helps the operator lift heavy objects. It is proven to significantly reduce shoulder and lower back stress for repetitive and precise lifting tasks found in virtually all industries and working environments.
