Ergonomic Assessment Warehouse: Shrink Wrapping Pallets

Dimensions of Pallet ► Height- 82 ½ inches ► Width- 43 ½ inches ► Length- 49 inches ► Weight- 789lbs

Job Description ► Three Stages  1: Shrinking the top of the pallet  2: Shrinking the middle of the pallet  3: Shrinking the bottom of the pallet

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Back ► Stage 1  Minor twisting (0-15°)  No bending ► Stage 2  Minor twisting (0-15°)  No bending ► Stage 3  Minor twisting (0-15°)  Bending (>15°)

Head and Neck ► Stage 1  Bending backwards (0-15°) ► Stage 2  Upright and straight ► Stage 3  Bending forwards (0-15°)

Arms ► Stage 1  Top elbow is out (>45°)  Arms extended over head (>45°)  Back elbow at side ► Stage 2  Top elbow is out (>45°)  Arms extended in front of body (0-45°)  Back elbow at side ► Stage 3  Lead elbow is out (>45°)  Arms extended in front of body (0-45°)  Back elbow at side

Elbows ► Stage 1  Elbows out of position (<90°) ► Stage 2  Top elbow out of position (<90°)  Bottom elbow at 90° ► Stage 3  Elbows out of position (>90°)

Wrists ► Stage 1  Top wrist- Ulnar deviated (>5°)  Bottom wrist- Extended (>10°) ► Stage 2  Top wrist- Ulnar deviated (>5°)  Bottom wrist- Neutral ► Stage 3  Top wrist- Extended (0-10°) ► Ulnar deviated (>5°)  Bottom wrist- Neutral

Standing ► Stage 1  Knees straight and not locked ► Stage 2  Knees straight and not locked ► Stage 3  Squatting

Static/dynamic effort ► Arms are in an static position for greater than 60 seconds  Higher heart rate  Higher energy consumption  Longer rest periods needed  Less efficient

Static/dynamic effort ► Will cause greater stress on joints and muscles  Fatigue sets in ► Muscle tires faster ► Causes weariness  Less oxygen to the muscle ► Lactic acid builds up ► Muscle can’t recover

Risk Factors ► Back and Neck-  Disc problems  Muscle strain  Arthrosis (joint degeneration) ► Shoulders, Arms, Legs  Muscle spasms  Arthritis  Tendinitis  Arthrosis

Recommended Solution ► Invest in a automatic shrink wrapper. ► Requires almost no effort or risk to the employee.

Recommended Solution ► When shrinking:  Keep elbows at sides and at 90° when possible  Keep wrists in neutral position  Keep back upright when in the squat position  Try not to keep arms in a static position