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Posted By Steve Buckeridge
I am struggling to find a manual handling aid that would be suited to an aplication we have where we lift many thousands of items each day.
The items range from 10-50kgs and can be quite varied in dimensions and type. The situation I'm particuarly concerned about is where items have to be lifted a short distance off a roller bed (at waist height), the person carrying the item turn through 180 degrees and then stack (from ground to about head high).
Have looked at the standard powered lifting hooks (not all the items have handles) and pneumatics (not all the items have a flat hard surface) and am now a bit stuck.
Particularly keen to hear from anyone involved in airline baggage handling or similar (parcel logistics, warehousing?) but any assistance would be grateful received!
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Posted By Jasonjg
I was going to say suspended vacuum but you killed it with the varying shape and I am guessing the construction also varies nullifying vacuum effects.
I did a few weeks work unloading and palletising a 40ft containers of different size and weights boxes that all have to be restacked and wrapped on pallets. Can totally appreciate the needs for changes in this form of work in all industries. Mechanisation is great for the big boys but either a lack of understanding or recourses leave many companies still in the dark.
As this was the companies main line of work i.e. distribution of varying packages. The manager solved the container issue with the use of a extendable conveyer however the palletising was more of a problem. They were not able to get changes done by suppliers and they were under strict guidelines as to the way the pallets had to be stacked i.e. no overlap.
After spending two months with them on behalf of an agency, I left due to a muscular strain in my shoulder with still plays up 2 months later (long story about temptation to shortcuts and poor workplace design).
The company looked at alternatives but costs seem to dominate and the end result was temporary agency workers (my sceptical mind). Although import and export was their primary business they only unloaded on particular days.
One guy I was talking too recently was considering having a sinking platform that kept the pallet at waist height and it was just a matter of training the operatives much, like the shrink wrappers. Opens up a whole other ball game.
So many devices and methods but this all depends on how much your company is prepared to pay.
Best of luck in finding a solution.
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Posted By Lorne
HAVE YOU CARRIED OUT A RISK ASSESSMENT ON THE WORK ACTIVITY THAT IS BEING PREFORMED? LOOK AT ACCIDENT’S AT WORK AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE INJURED THERE BACK’S ETC FROM THIS TYPE OF WORK. LOOK AT OTHER WAYS OF DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK IE TWO MAN LIFTS FOR OVER 30 KG AS IMPLOYED BY MY COMPANY AND THIS HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF SICK ABSENT FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK. TRY AND IMPLAMENT A SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK FOR ALL PERSONAL INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE OF WORK.
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Posted By Steve Buckeridge
Thank you Jasonjg & Lorne
The stacking recepticle moving up & down is an option we've looked at - I'm sure it would help. I think it would be limited though as there is still the lifting, twisting etc and as you say its pretty expensive.
We have done extensive risk assessment work and I agree two person lifts for over 30kgs (we also do that) have helped. As we are stuck with the process in its current form but have many LTIs per month, I'm trying to apply the heirachy of controls to obtain the best solution. I can't believe there isn't someone out there that has solved the problem before!
Regards
Steve
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Posted By Frank Hallett
Sorry to say this, but ultimately you may have to propose that the need for the lifting is removed by changes in the process. Almost all of the organisations that interact with large volumes of unpredictably shaped and weighted loads have now done their best to minimise the personal interaction although there is inevitably some remaining. This is normally addressed by frequent breaks and changes of activity.
Frank Hallett
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