Ergonomic Solutions

A leading cause of injuries on the job

2009-07-02T13:11:00.001-05:00

Fifteen U.S. workers die on the job every day, leaving behind family, friends and co-workers, and an employer who has to explain why. The single most common cause of the problem — complacency.

In the realm of workplace safety, practitioners define complacency as the attitude that “nothing will happen to me.”

And the No. 1 cause of that attitude is managers who are satisfied with mediocre safety performance. They fail to raise safety awareness, which helps to eliminate the potential for injury and improve the overall work environment.

What happens next is inevitable: Employees lose sight of safety’s importance because to them it appears management isn’t terribly concerned, either. They start to think they are not even responsible for their own personal safety at work, which is truly a remarkable transformation.

It happens every day. Overtime, as this situation is allowed to run its course, employees blame management and management blames the employees. In the meantime, people might be getting hurt and the bottom line is taking a beating with higher workers’ comp costs, fines, turnover, morale, etc.

So what can C-level managers do? Double-check that your own team hasn’t fallen into the safety complacency trap.

Managers are susceptible to complacency when other pressing issues such as increased productivity, improved quality and higher profits push safety concerns too far to the rear.

The only remedy that really works is re-commitment to safety that begins at the top.

Leadership must require managers to renew their own commitment to the safety process, while at the same time engage employees to get involved in meaningful safety activities.

Any attempt to reinvigorate a company-wide safety effort should include these 4 “musts for managers:

1. Take time to walk around and talk with employees

2. Make it a point to review all near-miss and injury reports.

3. Integrate safety into all aspects of management planning.

4. Enable employees to get involved in the safety process.

To get employees involved, require or encourage them to:

1. Report all unsafe conditions.

2. Attend safety meetings

3. Serve on safety committees

4. Participate in accident/incident investigations.

5. Share safety improvement ideas with managers.

By Rich Henson http://www.businessbrief.com/a-leading-cause-of-injuries-on-the-job/

Need to save money in this tough economy? How about increasing productivity.

2009-06-29T10:05:00.002-05:00

This Gorbel customer was able to decrease the manpower to do the job from 2 employees to 1 employee with a very inexpensive Gorbel workstation crane. Besides the manpower savings, there were electricity savings, and maintenance savings. Their ROI was less than 1 year.

An aircraft maintenance remanufacturing plant needed a safer, more productive process for disassembling and reassembling turbine engine reduction gear boxes without product damage.

The operation utilized a motorized I-beam crane with an electric hoist to lift shafts from gear boxes. It took one person to work the motorized crane controls and another person to position the shafts through the bearing housings. The motorized crane did not allow for precise positioning of the required load, therefore, two operators were absolutely necessary. Damaged parts and back injuries resulted from employees trying to manually position the 600 lb. loads the last ½ in. or so to achieve the exact position required.

To resolve the problem of product damage and employee safety, the company chose three 1,000 lb. free standing work station bridge cranes, all with aluminum bridges on steel enclosed track runways. The aluminum bridge is 40% lighter than a comparable enclosed track steel bridge and is 300% lighter than an I-beam crane system. Less than 5 lbs. of force is necessary to position the loads. An electric chain hoist is used for lifting. The company reached its goal of increasing productivity. Now, disassembly/reassembly can be easily and safely performed by one person, rather than two.

In the two years of this operation there’s been no product damage or worker injuries because of the ease of movement and positioning of the product within the work cell.

Drop us a note at sales@ergonomicpartners.com if you would like to look at what we can do for your company to increase prodictivity.

Obama seeking ways to curb repetitive motion injuries

2009-06-15T15:29:00.003-05:00

Author: John Wojcik
People's Weekly World Newspaper, 05/12/09 14:08

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/15597/

There once were job safety rules that helped keep down the number of ergonomic injuries. They were killed by President Bush and a GOP-run Congress.

Ergonomic injuries, also called musculo-skeletal and repetitive-motion injuries are by far the most common injuries workers get when they go to work. Hundreds of thousands of these injuries happen annually, costing millions of lost workdays.

Exact figures are no longer available because the Bush administration, after trashing the ergonomics rules, trashed separate rules requiring companies to report the number of such ailments.

Examples of ergonomic injuries include the back injuries health care workers suffer after they lift and turn patients, without benefit of mechanical assistance, and carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition of nerve degeneration requiring arm or hand surgery. Carpal tunnel affects categories of workers ranging from typists to meat cutters.

Recently, President Obama recruited Jordan Barab, a long-time occupational safety and health specialist and activist, for the position of acting director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Barab spoke about ergonomics at a May 5 legislative conference of union nurses in Washington D.C. He assured them that the Obama administration is committed to bringing back regulation in this area.

During the last year of the Clinton administration, after 10 years of lobbying by the labor movement and hard work by people inside and outside the Clinton White House, the Department of Labor issued a rule designed to reduce ergonomic injuries. The very first bill that Bush signed into law, after he was installed in the White House by the Supreme Court, was a law that repealed all the ergonomic injury rules.

“I remember the rules very well,” Barab, who worked in Clinton’s Department of Labor, told the nurses. “I remember nurses testifying, in tears, about ergonomic back injuries that cost them the careers they loved.

“We either have to get the repeal repealed, or go sector by sector to create new ergonomic rules,” he told the nurses. A third alternative, Barab added, “is to sit down with everyone,” including unions and business “to see what will work in the workplace and politically, to get around the repeal law.”

We can help your company be proactive and protect your workers now. Contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

New plant gets a Gorbel makeover!

2009-06-15T15:14:00.004-05:00

Check out a couple of pictures of this customer's new Gorbel systems. They had old homemade plain push cranes, and the new ergonomically friendly cranes are greatly appreciated by the operators. Note the multiple cranes on the runways. Bar electrification was used so they could have full travel up and down the runways. For those of you not familiar with Gorbel, it is normally powered up and down the runway with flat cable festoon.

If you are planning a new plant or just needing to upgrade and/or replace your existing overhead cranes, let us show you what Ergonomic Partners and Gorbel has to offer.

www.ergonomicpartners.com

sales@ergonomicpartners.com

314-766-4578

Are you ignoring ergonomic needs of your employees?

2009-06-15T15:07:00.003-05:00

With the recession, safety is one place that some companies are looking to save money. But one injury can offset the money saved and then some.

The High Cost of Ignoring Ergonomic Work Practices

As any company manager knows, it is important to weigh the costs of implementing new work programs with the expected long-term financial gains. Items labeled as being ergonomic can put a large dent into budgets. The business of ergonomics has become big business. A fully adjustable ergonomic chair alone can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Then there is the fear that if one work station is altered, every work station will need to be similarly altered. Or that by bringing up the topic of ergonomics, employees will be made aware of the potential for injuries and start making claims. It is not surprising that many companies do not look towards ergonomic solutions as a means of controlling costs.

On the other hand, not addressing ergonomic issues can be quite costly as well. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the direct and indirect costs of musculoskeletal injuries can total as much as $20 billion dollars a year. A survey conducted by Liberty Mutual in August of 2001 revealed that 95% of respondents felt that workplace safety had a positive impact on a company's financial performance; 86% felt that workplace safety provided a return on investment; and 61% felt that $3 or more is saved for each $1 invested in workplace safety.

So, we know that ergonomic solutions can decrease the incidence and cost of injuries and enhance employee satisfaction. We can further maximize ergonomic investment by looking for no-to-low cost solutions. Here are a few basic ergonomic freebies to get you started.

Some solutions can be as simple as rearranging a work space, moving the work area higher or lower or closer, placing tools within easy reach, and keeping the working space directly in front of our bodies. Avoid excessive reach. Place most frequently used items within an easy reach envelope. Position furniture and work equipment to promote healthy posture.

The more repetitive your job tasks, the more you are at risk. Rotate tasks often. Get up and get moving: get a drink of water, make a phone call; take a walk to the copy or fax machine; walk down the hall to discuss an item with a co-worker rather than using email.

Ensure that tools are in good working order. If using sharp tools, make sure the blades are sharpened to reduce the exertion needed during use. Do not disengage any safety features.

Make the environment as comfortable as possible. Avoid clutter and do not place items under desks or tables (you need to be able to get close to your working space). Re-direct air vents that are blowing down directly onto work stations. Reduce noise. Reduce glare. Provide sufficient lighting; use task lighting if necessary.

From http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art47497.asp
Ergonomics Site
Marji Hajic
BellaOnline's Ergonomics Editor

Give us a call at 314-766-4578 or email us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

www.ergonomicpartners.com

Another happy Gorbel customer

2009-06-15T14:54:00.002-05:00

There are many happy Gorbel end user stories. You can cut and paste the below link in your brower to view a customer explaining how they changed their whole plant over to Gorbel. Most of the time if a customer puts in one system they will use Gorble for all of their workstation crane applications.

Featured Customer Testimonial:

“We got one system in and it was so much easier to move...less operator fatigue, easier to position the parts in the machines. We've completely switched over the machine shop to all Gorbel Bridge Cranes.” - Arlen Seeman, Professional Engineer

View the video Testimonial...https://www.gorbel.com/videos/Testimony.html

Contact Ergonomic Partners at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Need an economical way to hang your tools in your plant?

2009-05-22T10:35:00.002-05:00

Are You Looking For A Lighter, More Cost Effective Solution For Suspended Tools?

Are you looking to:

Organize work areas to create a safer, more productive work environment?
Reduce the risk of cumulative trauma to workers by providing support for tooling apparatus?
Protect valuable tools, fixtures, and monitoring devices from damage by suspending them out of the way?

We now offer Tool Solution Jibs that will work for applications with suspended tools. These jibs are ideal for welding, fabricating, assembly tools, air tools, and light capacity lifting applications.

What is our offering?

50 lb. capacity Free Standing or Wall Mounted Tool Jib
150 lb. capacity Free Standing or Wall Mounted Tool Jib
75 lb. capacity Tool Trolley and Saddle for festooning of cables and hoses

For more information contact Ergonomic Partners, Inc. at sales@ergonomicpartners.com or visit www.ergonomicpartners.com

Gorbel comes thru again with a great custom overhead lifting solution!

2009-05-22T10:31:00.002-05:00

Work Station Crane Aids Welding Ventilation System Without Workflow Interruption...

This metal fabrication shop was having an overabundance of weld exhaust in their welding stations and did not have a good way to remove the weld pollutants. Most options for ventilation in these work cells involved the construction of walls or partitions which restricted traffic flow near the workspace.

One of the challenges they faced was that they still needed to load and unload gas tanks of various sizes and shapes to the work cell using an existing overhead Cleveland Tramrail® Patented Track Crane.

Solution: A Freestanding Work Station Crane with a 900-pound Frommelt filtration hood secured between two steel bridges with tractor drives. The work station crane has cantilevered supports on each end to enable the existing overhead crane to continue to deliver products to the work cell.

The system spans two welding work cells, and has push button controls on both ends to engage the tractor drives and move the hood over the desired cell. Limit switches signal to the tractor drive when the hood is in place and stops the movement. Whether you need custom solutions such as the above or a standard jib crane, overhead bridge crane, hoist or workstaion crane contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Need some new equipment? The government wants to help!

2009-05-22T10:18:00.001-05:00

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Creating Jobs, Supporting the States and Investing in Our Country’s Future

The United States is facing its deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression, one that calls for swift, bold action. The goals of this legislation are the same as they have been from day one: to strengthen the economy now and invest in our country’s future.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act extends for purchases made in 2009 increased Section 179 expensing for small business equipment purchases, as well as a 50% bonus depreciation allowance for new machine tools and other equipment ordered and placed in service during 2009.

ü The boost to $250,000 in Section 179 expensing is extended for new and used equipment purchases made and placed in service in 2009 The amount decrease to $128,000 in 2010. Moreover, the cap on how much equipment can be purchased to enjoy the write-off remains at $800,000 in 2009. In 2010, that amount drops to $510,000.

ü The one-year 50% bonus depreciation means you can write off in 2009 an extra 50% of the cost of your new equipment that you buy and start using in 2009 (* Qualifying companies can still receive the 50% bonus depreciation if the new equipment they order has a recovery period of 10 years or more, takes more than a year to produce and costs more than $1 million. Under those circumstances, they are given until the end of 2009 to place the equipment into service.)

Read more and view examples on how these incentives can work for you and your customers.

Here are some other documents that are useful in explaining the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

Office Ergonomics Book Reveals Early-Stage Solutions

2009-05-11T19:40:00.000-05:00


Common Office Environments Studied BOULDER, Colo., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chasen Group, a company that provides comprehensive and cost-effective ergonomic interventions to prevent workplace injuries, increase employee comfort, and improve productivity, today announced that John Wiley and Sons, the foremost publisher of scientific and medical journals has published a book titled "Safety Manager's Guide to Office Ergonomics," written by Craig Chasen, president. Mr. Chasen's book is targeted toward company safety managers, HR representatives, facilities technicians, and those responsible for providing ergonomic assistance for employees, but do not have an extensive background in ergonomics. The book focuses on common office environments so that readers can easily duplicate the proven solutions suggested. Drawing from more than 4000 ergonomic evaluations he personally conducted during the last 10 years, Chasen's expertise is documented using case studies with typical challenges and their successful outcomes. "Ergonomics-related discomfort is an increasingly prevalent workplace injury, especially for those who use computers all day," commented Mr. Chasen, a Certified Ergonomic Evaluation Specialist (CEES). "While the impact of those injuries can become extremely debilitating and expensive to treat, the solutions are not complex when implemented in the early stages of symptom development. I wrote this book so more people can learn how to identify and treat ergonomic issues early, resulting in employees who are more comfortable and more productive." The book depicts the typical office ergonomics problems, and provides solutions for resolving ergonomics-related discomfort. It features more than 175 workstation photos that illustrate problematic postures and succinctly show exactly how they can be corrected. The book is now available worldwide through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Target, and many others, including publisher Wiley & Sons: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470257601.html About The Chasen Group Founded in 2001, The Chasen Group conducts ergonomic evaluations for individual employees and employee groups, as well as ergonomics training classes. In addition to onsite evaluations, The Chasen Group specializes in long distance evaluations, where a distant location is successfully analyzed by viewing photos and measurements of the workstation, and speaking by phone and/or online with an affected individual. www.chasengroup.com ergonomicpartners.com

Gorbel Case Study featuring the G-Force with custom end effector

2009-04-27T15:39:00.004-05:00

The Gorbel G-Force shines again in another application. Read on to see how it was implemented in this custom lifting application. If you have sensitive parts where product damage and precise placement is of vital importance then the G-Force or the Gorbel Easy Arm may be your answer. Contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com for us to take a look at your custom lifting application.

Damage & Injury Risk “Virtually” Eliminated with G-Force®
Atlas Copco’s gas and process division engineers turbo compressors and expansion turbines that serve a number of industries, including natural gas processing and power generation. At an assembly facility where the components of the large compressors are assembled, multiple work processes were sharing a single overhead crane system for handling the components and sub assemblies. Workers would often be at a stand still while a co-worker used the crane, or would forgo the crane altogether and risk injury by lifting heavy parts by hand.

The company decided to target the high throughput milling applications for a process
change, and installed Gorbel work station cranes to eliminate the productivity delays
caused by the shared crane. While the new cranes would eliminated that problem,
finding a lifting device to fit the application was a challenge due to the size of the load and the sensitive machinery it was being placed into. In this work cell, large stainless steel cylinders that range from 5-15” in diameter and weigh from 15 to 400 pounds milled down from a bell shaped impeller blanks into the finished impeller with razor sharp edges. Moving the parts by hand posed multiple injury risks, as well as high potential for damage.

“We’re lifting very heavy steel cylinders and trying to place them with precision into the milling machine without damaging the part or the machine,” said Diehl. “We needed something that gave us a lot of control.” After exploring multiple servo-powered lifting devices, the company selected a 660 pound capacity G-Force® Q. While all the servo-powered devices delivered very good control, Atlas Copco felt they would have the most control with the G-Force® after seeing a demo of the unit’s
virtual limit package, float mode feature, and overall smooth movement thanks to the unit’s wire rope.

An operator now secures the impeller blanks into the tooling grip that Atlas Copco designed,which locks onto the blanks’ outer rim. Once secured, the operator engages Float Mode on the G-Force® handle, and then moves the load up and down by holding the gripping tool or the load itself.

We can bring the G-Force to you for you to see it in person. Drop us a line at sales@ergonomicpartners.com for an appointment!

Tommorow is Workers Mourning Day in many countries

2009-04-27T15:11:00.001-05:00

Twenty-five years ago, the Canadian Labour Congress declared April 28 a National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job to raise awareness of the thousands of workers whose lives were forever changed by injury and the hundreds who died every year. In 1990, the Parliament of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Act to formally recognize April 28 as a "day of mourning" across Canada.

April 28 is observed in more than 100 countries around the world as a day of remembrance and a day of action to improve workplace health and safety. In many countries, lives are being saved from needless ruin as employers comply and workplace deaths and injuries decline.

Avoiding Injuries & Saving Money with Ergonomics

2009-04-27T14:51:00.002-05:00

In our current economic climate wouldn't we all like to avoid costly injuries which obviously saves your company money.

Avoiding Injuries & Saving Money with Ergonomics

In the current difficult economic times, it has become more important than ever to look at how we can reduce costs in business while improving productivity and efficiency. Although ergonomic changes can initially cost a company some money, the savings in improved productivity and in eliminating lost work time due to injuries can be well worth the initial price.

In fall 2003, the Journal of the American Medicine Association published the results of a study on the effect of common pains on work productivity. Over 28,000 working adults in the United States participated in phone interviews. Researchers found the most common pain conditions resulting in lost productive time were headaches (5.4%), back pain (3.2%), arthritis pain (2.0%) and other musculoskeletal pain (2.0%). On the average, those reporting lost time due to a pain condition lost 4.6 hours per week. Surprisingly, lost productivity was reported as decreased performance at work rather than time spent off work recovering. The researchers estimated that this reduced productivity cost businesses $61.2 billion each year.

In an article published in the June 2004 edition of Canadian Occupational Health Magazine, Dr. Heather Tick, clinical director for the RSI Clinic in Toronto, recommended a proactive approach to treating the lost productivity by fixing the problems in the workplace contributing to pain. The article highlights a success story of a manufacturing company that used ergonomics to reduce injuries. In addition to reducing injuries and improving productivity, the ergonomic improvements also eliminated work place fines that had been levied on the company for excessive injuries and enabled the company to receive refunds for having injury rates below industry standards.

The following steps can be used in any work setting to help improve employee safety, comfort and productivity, thereby improving the company’s bottom line.
Determine how much the company is losing due to time away from work, retraining of other employees, reduced duties.
Assess the workplace for areas that are high risk.
Involve the employees in finding solutions.
Develop recommendations to improve the work environment.
Follow-up any changes with continuing assessment to determine the efficiency of changes made.
Source: Common Pains Don't Have to Hurt Company Wallet; Ergonomics Today; June 21, 2004 by Jeanie Croasmun.

Marji Hajic is an occupational therapist and a certified hand therapist practicing in Santa Barbara, California. For more information on hand and upper extremity injuries, prevention and recovery, please visit Hand Health Resources. Also see http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61547.asp

For help with your ergonomic lifting issues please look at www.ergonomicpartners.com or email us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Michigan Ergonomics Standard

2009-04-09T14:47:00.000-05:00

Michigan: Senator introduces bill to block state-mandated ergonomics standard
Lawmakers in Michigan approved legislation that would prevent the state from issuing a mandatory ergonomics standard.

Sponsored by Sen. Alan Sanborn, R-Richmond, S. 93 would prohibit the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration from establishing rules that govern ergonomics programs and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Voluntary guidelines, however, would remain permissible but cannot be more stringent than federal guidelines.

Earlier this year, the state's General Industry Safety Standards Commission and the Occupational Health Standards Commission voted unanimously to approve the regulations, which would make Michigan and California the only two states to adopt an ergonomics standard. Similar efforts were derailed in 2006.

Related Coverage
Lost time injuries, musculoskeletal disorders decline in '07, study finds (12/01/08)
National summit urges action to improve workforce health, productivity (12/01/08)
Surgeons issue new treatment guidelines for carpal tunnel syndrome (12/01/08)
Increasing workers' comp medical costs are major concern, insurers say (12/02/08)
North Carolina: Chronic low back pain on the rise, may be indicative of nationwide trend (03/26/09)
Sanborn said Gov. Jennifer Granholm's push for an ergonomics standard would severely harm the viability of Michigan's employers.
"Michigan's economy remains the worst in the nation, and if we're serious about recovery, we need to enact this bill," he said. "Despite the lack of evidence that these rules are necessary, the administration has spent more than six years crafting mandatory standards. It's just plain bad policy but to foist this on us during a recession borders on negligence."

Employer groups, including the National Federation of Independent Business, have come out against the standard, urging lawmakers not to heap new mandates on employers at a time when many are struggling.

"Michigan's rule as drafted would be the toughest in the nation and another reason not to do business in Michigan," said Charlie Owens, state director of the NFIB's Michigan bureau.

Sanborn said voluntary standards would produce the best results, noting that Michigan's MSD rate has decreased nearly 40 percent since 1998 without mandated ergonomics rules.

The bill now heads to the Michigan House of Representatives for consideration.

March 23, 2009
http://www.riskandinsurance.com/story.jsp?storyId=191059878

Big Belly and a Back Ache...Duh!

2009-04-09T14:40:00.003-05:00

The next time you complain about a bad back, take a good look at yourself in the mirror. The extra fat around your stomach could be the culprit.

According to doctors TODAY spoke to, being obese puts you at a greater risk of chronic backaches.

“While it is not known exactly how excess weight can contribute to back pain, it is known that obese people are often at greater risk for back and joint pain, and muscle strain,” said Dr David Wong, a specialist in orthopaedic surgery at Raffles Hospital.

Dr Patrick Goh, consultant sports physician at SportsMed Central in Gleneagles Hospital, explained that this is probably because an obese person generally carries more weight around the trunk, which tends to put more stress on the spine.

Excessive weight around the abdomen also leads to a heavier load, and therefore more wear and tear on the lumbar (lower back) disc and joints. This increases the stress on the spinal muscles, said Dr Goh.

According to Dr Wong, a pulled muscle or sprained ligament in the back is one of the most common causes of acute back pain.

Those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 25 (you are considered overweight if your BMI is between 25 to 29.9) are also at a greater risk of developing facet joint osteoarthritis, a condition that causes lower back pain and stiffness, Dr Wong added.

It can affect your quality of life

While back pain isn’t life-threatening - unlike other diseases that often plague obese people (coronary heart disease, diabetes) - patients are often surprised at how debilitating a backache can be.

“I have been having pain in my back on and off for the last two months after I strained a muscle. At its worst, I couldn’t even wear my pants properly,” said Edward Tan, a 49-year-old businessman.

With a BMI of 26.6, Mr Tan falls into the overweight category. Adults with a BMI of 30 and above are considered obese.

Annoyed and severely inconvenienced by his bad back, Mr Tan ended up seeing two doctors. He was subsequently referred to a physiotherapist and advised by his doctor to “lose some weight”.

“Back pain may affect one’s ability to work as well as play. It may even be severe enough to affect sleep, or lead to irritability or mild depression,” said Dr Goh.

In addition, said Dr Goh, backache sufferers may also be more prone to “lifestyle diseases” such as hypertension and diabetes - brought about by long-term inactivity caused by their backache.

How to keep your back pain at bay

Maintaining a healthy weight can ease the strain on the lower back.

But for short-term pain relief management, plenty of rest, as well as pain and inflammation control, may help.

“Resting in a horizontal position is usually best as this takes the load off your back, allowing muscles to relax. Warm packs on muscles may also reduce painful spasms,” advised Dr Goh.

If you have chronic back pain, you should also pay attention to your posture, ergonomics of your desk area and the way you lift heavy objects.

Prescription anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxants and over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory creams can also help in pain relief, added Dr Goh.

However, Dr Wong said that while OTC creams are generally effective in providing temporary relief, they are not effective as a long-term treatment.

“They only act on the surface of the skin and are not strong enough to penetrate deeper beyond the skin, where the root of the problem is,” he said. - TODAY/ra

CM Cleanroom hoist

2009-04-07T09:39:00.002-05:00

CM is the recognized leader in clean room hoists. Read on to find out why. Need help with a claenroom hoist give us a call at 314-766-4578 or drop us a line at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

With rigorous cleanroom requirements in the all types of cleanroom environments, the CM Lodestar Cleanroom Hoist can take the place of food processing hoists and electronic room hoists with one model line. The CM Cleanroom Hoist also serves as a great medical hoist and hospital hoist where cleanliness is an optional and desired quality. Whether your work area includes high humidity, corrosive materials, or sanitary conditions, the Lodestar offers superior efficiency and versatility for your material handling needs. ¼, ½, 1 and 2 ton single and two-speed options provide for heavier duty applications as a food processing hoist, an electronic room hoist or pharmaceutical hoist.An assured contamination-free hoist, the CM Lodestar Cleanroom Hoist uses non-oxidizing grease rather than oil for lubrication, to eliminate drips and a stainless steel load chain that guards against flaking or peeling.FDA-approved white epoxy powder coat paint, or a nickel-plated housing also adds to the contamination-free hoist operation for the biotechnology, aerospace, electronic and semi-conductor environments.The CM Cleanroom Hoist’s sealed weather-proof construction makes the hoist ideal for full washdown and humid environments. A variety of accessories such as stainless steel chain, hooks, links and slings help with versatile cleanroom lifting applications. Both stainless steel, corrosion resistant trolleys and motorized trolleys are also available.CM also offers a cleanroom hand hoist, the “Zephyr,” for use in similar clean environments.Full details, specification sheets, images and audio presentations are available by visiting: http://www.cmindustrial.com/cleanroomhoist.asp at www.cmindustrial.com.Whether lifting steel beams or positioning delicate electronic equipment, all of the necessary products are available from a single source – CM Complete Lifting Systems. Jib cranes, enclosed track systems, crane components, trolleys, and beam clamps offer numerous options overhead, while hoists are available in electric, air, and manual configurations. Below-the-hook attachments like spreader beams, shackles, chain slings, hooks, and clamps round out one of the most versatile lines in the industry. An integral part of Columbus McKinnon Corporation, the CM brand has built a reputation for quality and durability for more than 130 years.

CM also make a special wind turbine hoist which we will look at later. www.ergonomicpartners.com

FALL PROTECTION FROM GORBEL

2009-03-14T16:51:00.003-05:00

Does your company have men in high places without fall protection. Need a safer and more economical way to provide fall protection? Well Gorbel has a new product that may be of interest to your company.

TETHER TRACK™ bridge or monorail systems are a reliable, cost-effective way to reduce the risk of injury in elevated work environments. Compared to wire rope systems, TETHER TRACK™ offers shorter free fall distances, reduced risk of secondary fall injuries, longer distances between support centers, and no negative impact on a second worker in the event of someone falling.

Capacity: 900 pound maximum arresting force
Anchor Systems for Fall Arrest
Mounting styles: Ceiling Mounted, Free Standing Monorail and Bridge Anchor Systems
These systems are a reliable, cost effective way to reduce the risk of injury in elevated work environments
Standard systems designed to support multiple workers, each weighing up to 310 lbs with tools
Heavier systems can also be custom engineered.

Features and Benefits:

Unlimited monorail and runway lengths; 15' span for bridge anchor system
Less fall clearance distance requiring less clearance from the anchor point
Reduced risk of secondary injuries because the system stays firm and minimizes total fall distance
Reduced material and labor costs due to the longer distance between supports
Uninterrupted protection for additional workers

Let us help you out with a fall rptection system. Contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Options and Accessories:

Ceiling Mounted or Free Standing Monorail and Bridge Anchor Systems
Plain, trussed, or dual trussed track depending on your application
Tether Trolleys

Gorbel Website

2009-03-05T14:43:00.002-06:00

Check out Gorbels new user friendly website at www.gorbel.com. If you see something you like give us a call. We would love to answer any questions you have about Gorbels line of products.

sales@ergonomicpartners.com or 314-766-4451

Daylight Saving(s) Time

2009-03-05T14:39:00.002-06:00

Below is an interesting article about Spring forward and falling back. Dont forget to set your clocks forward this weekend.

13 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Daylight Saving Time
When clocks spring forward, people lose sleep, have more heart attacks, and might not even save energy
By Ben Harder
Posted March 3, 2009
Americans will set their clocks ahead by an hour this weekend, as daylight saving time begins Sunday. "Springing forward" creates another hour of sunlight in the evening. It also has some effects on health and public safety that many people are unaware of. Interesting facts about daylight saving time include:

1. Officially, it's "daylight saving time," not "daylight savings time." But don't feel bad if you thought there was a final "s" on "saving"; far more people Google the incorrect phrase than the correct one.
2. Daylight saving time has mixed effects on people's health. Transitions into and out of DST can disturb people's sleeping patterns, for example, and make them more restless at night. Night owls tend to be more bothered by the time changes than people who like mornings, Finnish researchers concluded last year.
3. There's a spike in heart attacks during the first week of daylight saving time, according to another study published last year. The loss of an hour's sleep may make people more susceptible to an attack, some experts say. When daylight saving time ends in the fall, heart attacks briefly become less frequent than usual.
4. People are safer drivers during daylight hours, and researchers have found that DST reduces lethal car crashes and pedestrian strikes. In fact, a study concluded that observing DST year-round would annually prevent about 195 deaths of motor vehicle occupants and about 171 pedestrian fatalities.
5. A U.S. law signed by President George W. Bush in 2005 extended the length of daylight saving time by four weeks. It now begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March. It ends on the first Sunday in November.
6. Also in 2005, Kazakhstan abolished daylight saving time, citing negative health effects. The country's government reportedly calculated that 51.6 percent of Kazakhs responded badly to the time change.
7. Many other countries observe daylight saving time, but not all do so on the same day. That can create confusion for international travelers, business communications, and more.
8. Daylight saving can also cause confusion close to home. In March 2007, a Pennsylvania honor student was mistakenly accused of threatening his school with a bomb. He had actually called an automated line to get info about scheduled classes. Someone else made the bomb threat an hour later.
9. Two states—Arizona and Hawaii—and three U.S. territories—American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—don't observe daylight saving time. Indiana adopted DST in 2006.
10. Local time determines when DST begins, so America's eastern time zone makes the switch before the rest of the country. This Sunday, cities like New York and Atlanta will be two hours ahead of the central time zone, instead of the usual one-hour difference, from 3 a.m. to 3:59 a.m. EDT. New York City will be four hours ahead of Los Angeles—instead of the usual three—from 3 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. EDT.
11. Daylight saving time was first used during World War I, as part of an effort in the United States and other warring countries to conserve fuel. In theory, using daylight more efficiently saves fuel and energy because it reduces the nation's need for artificial light.
12. The first American to advocate for daylight saving was Benjamin Franklin. He realized in 1784 that many people burned candles at night yet slept past dawn in the summer, wasting early-morning sunlight.
13. The effect of DST on energy use has changed over time and varies from place to place. Experts even disagree on whether DST still saves the nation energy. But so many people like to "spring forward" that it might be hard for officials to end the tradition, even if they determined it's wasteful

Custom lifting application case study

2009-02-19T06:41:00.004-06:00

Ergonomic Partners has used the Easy Arm zero gravity lifter with custom lift assist devices

for many applications. Read on for one done by Gorbel which allowed much greater productivity while also protecting the worker against injury and fatigue.

Easy Arm™ Increases Productivity By Allowing Operator To Lift Five Times As Many Parts...
A major tier one auto parts supplier stamps round sheet metal blanks into clutch disc drums for transmissions. The thin blanks range in diameter from 6-14” and weigh up to 4 pounds each. They arrive in a bin and are manually loaded into a transfer press.
Problems:
Back strain and fatigue from continual bending, turning, and carrying blanks to the loading turn table
Cuts to hands, wrists, and elbows
Workers could only handle 25 lbs of blanks manually
Reduced productivity towards the end of shifts due to fatigue
Solution: 330 lb. capacity Q Series Easy Arm™ Intelligent lifting device with a pneumatic gripping tool (by others).

Results:
Workers could now grab five times as many blanks and effortlessly guide them into the spindles on the loading table
Reduced worker fatigue and injuries
Faster cycle times and increased productivity
The Q-360 swivel at the top of the Easy Arm handle allowed operators to load/unload continuously without tangling the hose for the tooling. Programming and float mode are easier to engage with the handle's digital readout.

If you have an application that is a problem in your plant let us show you how we can provide a custom lift assist, or lifting device to take the load off your workers and allow you to make more money.

Give us a call at 314-766-4578 or sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Gorbel Case Study for zero gravity lifter--Easy Arm

2009-02-02T21:42:00.002-06:00

We love to pass on case studies from Gorbel applications. The Gorbel Easy Arm is perfect for so many applications where either speed or precise placement or both are required. It can be used with custom lift devices integrated into the handle or just used with simple mechanical tooling such as the hook Gorbel provides or slings. Read on about a recent application:

"We are a very ergonomic-minded company," said the Manufacturing Manager. "While some products may be good for the workers, they can be a tough sell when we try to convince them to use the products. The Easy Arm™ products were very easy to convince our workers to use. The introduction of the Easy Arms into the work flow tied in perfectly to the Six Sigma strategy and the efficiency of the company's work flow."

Industry: Turbine Motor Overhaul Center

Application: During reassembly and balance of the turbine engines, parts are called up from a vertical storage unit, loaded manually onto a cart and brought to a work bench for assembly.

Gorbel® Solution: Free Standing Easy Arm - In implementing a Six Sigma manufacturing strategy, the company installed two free standing 150-pound capacity Easy Arms to serve the individual work bays.

With this solution, productivity increased 25% and injuries have been eliminated.

The Problem: A large overhead crane is in the area, but it is slow, bulky, and a shared resource for multiple neighboring work cells, and therefore delayed the work flow for those waiting on the crane. This prompted many workers to lift parts manually, with larger parts requiring two people to lift. Back injuries were the leading workers compensation problem for the company, and the sequencing of the work flow was not ideal.

Why Easy Arm™ Was The Smart Solution:

The Easy Arm™ fit beneath the existing overhead crane
No special foundation was needed

If you would like us to help with your application give us a call at 314-766-4578 or sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Electromotive/Magnetek Press Release

2009-01-29T22:01:00.001-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Magnetek, Inc. Announces the Release of the
New Sway Control System (SCS) Series 2

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - January 23, 2009 -Magnetek, Inc. today announced the release of its new Sway Control System (SCS) Series 2™ for the material handling industry. This custom software can be embedded in the Company’s IMPULSE®•G+ Series 3 variable frequency drives for new or existing crane control systems without the need for external programmable logic controllers or height measurement devices.

Our new Sway Control System custom software improves productivity by allowing the crane operator to concentrate on load engagement and disengagement rather than focusing on minimizing load swing. The system also improves the accuracy of load placement and reduces material damage caused by incidental contact of swinging loads,” said Aaron Kureck, Magnetek product manager of AC/DC Controls/Motors.

The new Sway Control System has been designed to integrate seamlessly with existing travel motion features incorporated in the IMPULSE•G+ Series 3 drive. Since no additional external hardware is required, retrofitting existing crane controls is simplified.

Magnetek’s Sway Control System was also designed to eliminate the requirement for an absolute encoder, and is also capable of controlling sway for multiple hoists on the same bridge crane.

For more information on Magnetek’s new Sway Control System visit www.ergonomicpartners.com, or call 1-314-402-7775.

Bishamon Solutions highlighted below

2009-01-28T12:32:00.004-06:00

We love Bishamon and their solutions for industry. These are always a simple solution to a problem and are cost effective. If you have workers bending over, twisting, squatting, etc....take a look at this solution, as well as soultions on our website. I have not been in a plant where there is not at least one worker whose job could be made easier with a simple solution like a lift table

Bishamon Solutions

“Bishamon LX Series Electric Hydraulic lift tables on the job”

Application:

This firm presents spray equipment in the repair area of their retail stores for upgrading and service. After watching the staff struggling to work on the machines, this observant client presented a unique solution for their application.

Problem:

The machines are rolled into the shop service area. The operator must work on various areas of this machine from the floor. Workers must bend, reach and stretch to make repairs, add components, and complete service for each piece of equipment.

Solution:

Bishamon Lo-Profile Electric Hydraulic Lifts are introduced to this production process. The machines are rolled onto the Lo Profile lift via an approach ramp. The lift table raises the machine to accommodate the specific area the worker needs to address. The result is less bending, reaching and stretching, reduced fatigue and improved productivity.

Contact Ergonomic

Application:

Problem:

Solution:

Contact Ergonomic Partners at sales@ergonomicpartners.com or 314-766-4578

Workplace safety and the economy

2009-01-22T23:03:00.004-06:00

This is an interesting article. Out in the field we have heard of companies cutting many programs including safety and ergonomics. Lets hope they dont take the short sighted view and put their workers at risk.

Reducing or Ignoring Workplace Safety During Business Downturns Could Be Costly, American Society of Safety Engineers Note
DES PLAINES, IL (December 18, 2008) – “Workplace safety processes must be in place at all times,” American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) President Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHMM, of Fairborn, Ohio, said today. “They are even more critical during business downturns.”
Brown is referring to recent reports of some companies cutting safety processes hoping to reduce costs.
“If companies believe they will save money by reducing or ignoring safety for their workers, customers and communities they do business in, they are mistaken,” Brown said. “The ongoing positive results are in and have been for companies that have a strong safety culture and continually invest in and implement effective safety processes. Not only does their bottom line benefit positively, but their company reputation stays intact, employees stay safe and healthy reducing health care, workers comp, training and turnover costs not to mention keeping customers, the communities they do business in, vendors and employees happy. Safety is good business.”
Members of the 97-year-old ASSE -- occupational safety, health and environmental professionals located worldwide -- caution employers against cutting back on workplace safety in time of economic difficulty. President-Elect of the ASSE South Carolina Chapter Laura Comstock said, “Some safety related purchases and testing can be deferred, but other purchases, such as those for employee personal protective equipment (PPE) like hardhats, safety glasses and respirators, are critical to operations.”
It is especially important for companies to show support for their employee safety during challenging economic times, she notes. “Employee morale may be low and employees may be carrying additional workloads, such as working additional hours or doing unfamiliar tasks due to cutbacks,” she notes.
Comstock added, “In order to remain viable long-term, a company must maintain a solid safety process even through difficult times. The most successful companies in the long term also have the strongest safety performance.”
“We realize these are tough times, but during economic down-turns, employers seeking to cut expenses may target variable operating costs such as travel, training and safety,” Brown said. “Money cut from safety processes now could have an enormous cost later; this can be from injury and health care costs, fines, lost production time, employee morale, or worst of all, employee injury or even death. There are better and smarter ways to protect the bottom line.”
The South Carolina ASSE chapter suggests employees can also take measures to help companies save money such as by: following safe working procedures and practices to prevent injuries, related downtime and expenses such as costly fines; by properly using, cleaning and caring for protective equipment such as hardhats and respirators; reusing gloves whenever possible for as long as possible; and by keeping track of safety glasses and reusable hearing protection.
Investing in safety pays and contributes positively to a company’s bottom line. Businesses spend about $170 billion a year on costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses and pay almost $1 billion every week to injured employees and their medical providers. In addition, a recent investment firm study in Australia showed valuation links between workplace safety and health factors and investment performance. It found that companies who did not adequately manage workplace safety issues underperformed those that did.
Comstock also reminds employers, “When considering training reductions, some safety related training is driven by regulation, is time sensitive and cannot be delayed. Safety training related savings can be generated by streamlining and implementing simple solutions including using online or electronic safety training services, rather than face-to-face classroom safety training.”
“We need to work together during these difficult times, but reducing or ignoring workplace safety should not be a strategic or budget option,” Brown said. “The costs – both tangible and intangible – are far too high and hard to recoup.”

From http://www.asse.org/newsroom/

Mandatory Ergonomic Standards in Michigan?

2009-01-22T22:46:00.002-06:00

Well Michigan looks like they will vote in mandatory ergonomics rules. While we love to have companies take care of their workers, it would be nice if we could keep the government out of it.

LANSING, Mich. -
Commissions set up by Michigan regulators have taken preliminary votes to advance mandatory workplace ergonomics standards in the state. Wednesday’s actions upset business groups that say mandatory ergonomics training and reporting would raise the cost of doing business at a time many employers are struggling. California is the only state with its own ergonomics rules. The federal government has voluntary ergonomics guidelines. Business officials say that although there are other steps in the process, the votes practically guarantee rules will be enacted in Michigan. Supporters of the standards argue that ergonomics helps workers. Ergonomics aims to limit injuries caused by heavy lifting, repetitive motion and awkward work positions. Associated Press Janaury, 14th 2009.

If you would like to be proactive, give us a call or drop us an email. www.ergonomicpartners.com

Ergonomic Solutions

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Obama seeking ways to curb repetitive motion injuries

New plant gets a Gorbel makeover!

Are you ignoring ergonomic needs of your employees?

Another happy Gorbel customer

There are many happy Gorbel end user stories. You can cut and paste the below link in your brower to view a customer explaining how they changed their whole plant over to Gorbel. Most of the time if a customer puts in one system they will use Gorble for all of their workstation crane applications.

Featured Customer Testimonial:

Need an economical way to hang your tools in your plant?

Gorbel comes thru again with a great custom overhead lifting solution!

Need some new equipment? The government wants to help!

Office Ergonomics Book Reveals Early-Stage Solutions

Gorbel Case Study featuring the G-Force with custom end effector

Tommorow is Workers Mourning Day in many countries

Avoiding Injuries & Saving Money with Ergonomics

Michigan Ergonomics Standard

Big Belly and a Back Ache...Duh!

CM Cleanroom hoist

FALL PROTECTION FROM GORBEL

Features and Benefits:

Options and Accessories:

Gorbel Website

Daylight Saving(s) Time

Custom lifting application case study

Gorbel Case Study for zero gravity lifter--Easy Arm

Electromotive/Magnetek Press Release

Magnetek, Inc. Announces the Release of the New Sway Control System (SCS) Series 2

Bishamon Solutions highlighted below

Workplace safety and the economy

Mandatory Ergonomic Standards in Michigan?

Magnetek, Inc. Announces the Release of the
New Sway Control System (SCS) Series 2