A battery powered vehicle that travels at a speed of 4.0 mph and can raise the worker to a vertical height of 161 inches is presented as a contribution to ergonomic solutions of workplace problems. Three ergonomic analysis methods were used to evaluate this intervention: posture analysis of the trunk and shoulders, activity analysis, and worker interviews. Each of these methods was used to evaluate this job both pre- and post-intervention. The self-elevating vehicle was not expected to improve trunk posture since workers must still periodically reach to the low bin levels. However, small improvements were observed. Predominantly neutral torso postures were observed when using all equipment. Severe torso flexion (forward bending) was observed in all cases when workers picked or stocked parts from the lower shelves and this was not affected by the introduction of the self-elevating vehicle. The self-elevating vehicle raises workers vertically to the appropriate bin location for picking or stocking parts. Overall, the self-elevating vehicle reduced the amount of time the shoulder was in non-neutral postures to 12% of the time, roughly one-half of the duration of non-neutral postures with the ladder cart and powered ladder truck. Elevated arms were observed while loading the self-elevating vehicle; both while reaching to the back of the cart to retrieve items (not affected by the intervention) and when stacking items on the self-elevating vehicle. Workers are at increased risk of experiencing a 'fall from elevation' accident when climbing, descending, or standing on ladders. The risk of a fall may increase if the worker cannot use both hands to grasp the ladder rails. An analysis of work activities showed that during stocking and picking operations with the ladder cart and powered ladder truck, workers spent approximately one-third of the time working on ladders. When using the ladder cart for stocking and picking, workers spent six percent of the time pushing the ladder cart. Both operation dependent effects were reduced to zero with the self--elevating vehicle.
Case study: Use of self-elevating vehicles within warehouse operations
Fallstudie: Gebrauch von Hebebühnenfahrzeugen in Warenlagerbetriebseinrichtungen
2000
3 Seiten, 2 Bilder, 1 Quelle
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
Self-elevating crane controlling configuration changing operations
Europäisches Patentamt | 2022
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