Ergonomics and efficiency in a smart package solution

Transcription

1 lindab ventilation Ergonomics and efficiency in a smart package solution

2 About Finnish Institute of Health Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is a cross scientific research institute, that promotes work safety, occupational health and well-being at work. The institute functions at the administrative sector of The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. There are regional offices in six different towns around the country; Helsinki, Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Tampere and Turku. The main office and the administration is also in Helsinki. There are approximately 600 permanent employees and approximately 200 project workers employed by the institute. The institute was established in FIOH carries out research, disseminates information, provides expert services, and trains occupational health and safety specialists. The goal of the Institute s activities is healthy workers, a sound work community, and a safe and productive work environment. 2

3 We know the advantages of Lindab Safe Click Lindab Safe Click and Smart tools At Lindab we work continously to simplify and improve our solutions. Lindab Safe Click and our Smart tools range are a result of this. They were developed to improve working conditions for ventilation installers. Lindab Safe Click provides a significant number of advantages, concerning both installation time, ergonomics and tightness, and thereby operation and economy. Our Smart tools range is built up of a number of tools aiming at making the installation work both faster and more ergonomic. Background During some years, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has studied the work of ventilation installers, and reached to the conclusion that this must be classified as very heavy work. The workload is prepossessed by the tools and components used, and also by the methods and working skills of the workers. The work was videotaped and an analysis was made concerning working positions, heartrate and muscular strain. There are many working stages in the installation process such as carrying, cutting, drilling and mounting. Normally, the worker must perform kneeling on the floor as well as standing on a ladder with both arms above shoulder level. Lindab Safe Click Lindab s new, innovative duct system that clicks together, ensuring more ergonomic working positions. Lindab SR Cutter Lindab SR Cutter provides the possibility to a faster and more precise cutting of ducts, along with a more ergonomic working position. Lindab Trolley Lindab Trolley makes it possible for a single person to move many ducts at a time or a duct with big dimension. Lindab Handles Lindab Handles makes carrying heavy ducts easier and less strenuous. 3

4 FIOH - a guarantor for the impartial testing and documentation of Lindab Safe Click Objective This study was undertaken to compare the use of Lindab Safe Click method with the most currently used methods of installing ventilation ducts - Lindab Safe with screws and Lindab Safe with rivets 1. by assessing the physical demand of installation work, the ease with which the job is done, and the perceived strain of the workers during three installation and transport tasks and Tutkimusmateriaali ja -metodi Tutkimuksen kohteena olleet työvaiheet laboratorioolosuhteissa olivat: 1. kanavien leikkaus, kiinnitys ja asennus mm:n kanavien kuljetus perinteisin ja Lindabin kehittämin menetelmin. 2. by collecting data on the usability of the Lindab Safe Click method and proposals for improving the method from workers who participated in the study. Participants There were nine participants in different ages and with different work experience. Medium Span Age: 41 years years Length: 180 cm cm Weight: 80 kg kg Work experience: 20 years 2-37 years Strain of present work: Pain, ache, hurt, or numbness of musculoskeletal system general strain: strenuous neck and shoulder region: very strenuous low back, upper and lower limbs: strenuous all participants had these symptoms; half of them suffered quite a lot most symptoms participants felt in low back, neck, shoulders and wrists. short-time lasting pains from work participants had in low-back and wrists (7), neck (6) and upper back (5) 4

5 The work of installing ductwork is physically demanding, especially for the musculoskeletal system. The workload particularly affects the upper limbs and the neck shoulder region. The strain caused by the work can vary greatly, depending on a worker s own work habits, skill, experience, and available tools. Method Installation time (min) Least strain Least demand for strength Workers opinions The most user friendly Quickest The best work posture Lindab Safe Click 6, Lindab Safe with screw 7, Lindab Safe with rivet 8,

6 Cutting SR Cutter makes it possible to work on a standing working position. Working on the floor is harmful to knees, back and neck. Positions on the floor are often twisted and bent, with Lindab Safe Click and SR Cutter one experiences healthy muscle strain. Work postures during the cutting and initial assembly Safe Click Pop rivet Screw (percentage of observed postures) Back straight bent forward twisted or bent sidewards bent and twisted Upper limbs under shoulder level one above shoulder level both above shoulder level Lower limbs standing knees bent or squatted kneeling walking Neck straight bent forward bent backwards or twisted

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8 Mounting To work with the arms above shoulder level gives a higher heartrate and a greater muscular strain on the shoulders. When Lindab Safe Click is used less time is spent in that position and does not require lifting of tools above shoulder level. Work postures during the mounting Safe Click Pop rivet Screw (percentage of observed postures) Back straight bent forward twisted or bent sidewards bent and twisted Upper limbs under shoulder level one above shoulder level both above shoulder level Lower limbs standing walking Neck straight bent forward bent backwards or twisted

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10 Carrying The transport of ducts was assessed using five workers, who repeated the task three times during the use of the three methods (manual, attachable handle, two-wheel trolley). The use of a two-wheel trolley was the fastest means of transporting the duct. An average of 44, 50, and 54 seconds was used with the two-wheel trolley, the attachable handles, and the manual method, respectively. Work postures during the transport of ducts Manual Handle Trolley (percentage of observed postures) Back straight bent forward twisted or bent sidewards 44-3 bent and twisted Upper limbs under shoulder level one above shoulder level both above shoulder level Lower limbs standing walking Neck straight bent forward bent backwards or twisted

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12 Lindab is an international group which develops, manufactures and markets sheet metal products and system solutions in the Ventilation, Building Systems and Building Components business areas. The Ventilation business area focuses on the ventilation industry, offering everything from ventilation components to complete indoor climate solutions. The Building Components business area focuses on products and systems in sheet steel for roof drainage, roof and wall cladding, as well as steel profiles for walls, roof and beam constructions. The Building Systems business area focuses on preengineered steel building systems. A complete building solution comprising the outer shell with the main structure, wall, roof and accessories. The Lindab group has employees in 31 countries , rev 1