Ergonomic principles are important in manufacturing settings. Using manufacturing ergonomic equipment and procedures can help reduce the risk of injuries, improve productivity, and create a more comfortable work environment for your employees.

If you haven’t implemented ergonomic warehouse equipment into your manufacturing plant yet, consider these benefits for why you should.

What Is Ergonomic Equipment?

The science of ergonomics in the workplace is designed to tailor tasks, products, and environments for the human body, thereby eliminating any physical barriers to quality and productivity. When ergonomic equipment is implemented into a warehouse setting, production processes can become more functional and streamlined, allowing for certain hazards to be avoided altogether.

As with any manufacturing process, safety is always the top concern. By implementing ergonomic equipment, workers can engage more effectively with the equipment they are working on and feel comfortable in their environment. This can help decrease the number of injuries or other accidents that can occur without the use of workplace ergonomics.

What Type of Ergonomic Equipment Does Your Plant Need?

When selecting ergonomic equipment for a manufacturing plant, it is important to consider the specific needs of the workers. Each type of equipment has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to choose the products that will best suit the workers in the facility.

Common warehouse ergonomic equipment may include lifting devices, such as conveyors, cranes, and hoists, as well as chairs and other workstation-specific equipment. Certain lifting devices, like a pneumatic lift table, are great for lifting heavy objects without causing worker strain or injury. They are also more beneficial than a crane because you aren’t lifting objects over the heads of employees.

Workstations can also be designed to optimize workflow and reduce operator fatigue. Ergonomic chairs provide support and comfort, helping workers stay focused on tasks. Hydraulic assist tilt tables and double mechanical tilt stands both allow workers to unload parts without any heavy lifting. The double mechanical tilt stand is also popular because it saves on lineside space where you can have containers stacked instead of putting them side by side.

Although the part weight stays the same, these tilt tables place the parts at a better ergonomic height for workers to access. They also allow parts to be brought directly to the assembly line and unloaded there.

Industrial turntables are also ideal because they can be rotated without the operator having to move or push anything too heavy. These turntables help to cut down on the number of times a lift truck needs to change out a station, resulting in less fork truck traffic, which helps to boost safety. The tables “ergonomically” use a 21” bearing that makes the push and pull forces much less than ones with smaller bearings.

Benefits of Using Ergonomic Equipment

Ergonomic solutions in a warehouse setting can offer numerous benefits, all of which can help improve productivity and workplace safety. We will discuss some of these benefits below.

  • Enhances Worker Productivity

It’s no surprise that automated processes are much more effective than manual ones. One of the huge benefits of ergonomic warehouse equipment is how it can help ramp up productivity, ultimately increasing how much work can be done in a shorter amount of time. Additionally, our ergonomic equipment at American Manufacturing can help find solutions for certain processes that cannot be easily automated.

Employees who are comfortable and able to work in their preferred position are more productive than those who are not. Since ergonomic equipment tailors workstations to the human body and allows people to feel more natural when moving around, employees are bound to be more focused on the task at hand.

  • Decreases Risk of Injury

Many workplace injuries in a warehouse setting occur due to overexertion, such as pushing, pulling, carrying, or lifting extremely heavy objects. Due to repetitive motion, these injuries can occur over time from awkward lifting or twisting movements.

Without using ergonomic equipment, manufacturers may end up paying worker’s compensation and other fees to ensure worker injuries are legally handled. This can directly impact your manufacturing business, since you may also end up owing money for attorney fees, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties, equipment damages, and more if an injury were to occur in your warehouse.

  • Produces Higher Quality Work

In addition to allowing for higher focus from workers, ergonomic equipment can also increase the quality of work. Equipment that helps enhance worker tasks during automated production methods allow for work to be completed more efficiency and at a higher level. Workers who also enjoy their role in the manufacturing process are likely to create more excellent output because they care more about what they are doing. 

  • Improves Quality of Work Life

Productivity in your warehouse setting can suffer if workstations are uncomfortable for employees. Ergonomics can create a more comfortable work environment with more efficient and effective equipment, increasing morale and motivation among employees.

The quality of work life can also be improved by eliminating certain safety hazards. By avoiding strain due to repetitive motion, employees will feel healthier and are less likely to develop injuries from continuous straining movements over time. Higher productivity levels can also lead to higher job satisfaction, especially when production processes are done in a safe manner.

Implementing ergonomic equipment and procedures in your manufacturing plant doesn’t have to be a challenge. Still, it is important to consider what your workers need to be successful and how much the equipment costs. Fortunately, American Manufacturing has ergonomic equipment options that are both effective and affordable for your manufacturing plant. Contact us today to learn more.