Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By Aggi Katniak
Good morning
We have moved to a new site where there is an anti-static floor in the production area.
Originally, the company provided all staff with chairs on casters but they skated and slided and we had two incidents with people falling off them. Hence, as a corrective action, we reviewed the situation and decided to try soft wheels. New, soft wheels were fitted but there was no difference.
We also considered chair mats or carpet but they were deemed not feasible.
The supplier suggested we tried other type of wheels with built-in brakes. In practice, the way they work is that as soon as someone sits down on a chair, the chair becomes static. We tested the new casters for a short time in one area and they were found ok. We then fitted them to all chairs. Then the real problems began. We have had tens of people complaining about not being able to work, knee problems, lower back problems, absences and all sorts of protests against the new wheels.
The company decided to review the wheels again but we have no ideas what we could do? The old wheels were unsafe, the new wheels are even worse.
We’ve now had a real chair saga and I feel this is a no-win situation.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Aggi
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Sally
Do your staff need to be able to move around or could you provide chairs without wheels?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Aggi Katniak
They need to move along the workstations.
We have considered removing chairs completely but the idea was not given a warm welcome.
Aggi
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Chris Packham
Aggi
Could you put the chairs on rails, so that they can move from workstation to workstation but not anywhere else? I have seen this somewhere, but I cannot remember where at the moment.
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Merv Newman
Aggi
The suggestion from Chris is a good one, if feasible. I see it quite often on vehicle construction lines where the car or truck doesn't stop moving so the employee has to follow the movement. At the end of the cycle they just scoot back to the starting point.
Merv
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Eric Taylor
I'm sure there is something in DSE about "users" and "operators" depending on the time spent at the work station. If they fall in to the lower usage category, I believe you do not need the usual 5 wheeled multi- adjustable chair. I have seen high level work stations with a stool like seating arrangement where the person rests their behind on a small pad or seat affair. Might suit your use?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Aggi Katniak
Hi
Thanks for your suggestions.
I've checked the idea of chairs on rails, probably not feasible in our circumstances.
I'm looking now at getting some external help from ergonomics consultancies. Will publish the results here as soon as we find some decent solution to the problem.
Regards
Aggi
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jimmy R
Did the employee's using the chairs come up with any potential solutions?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Aggi Katniak
Unfortunately not, most of them insist on having the old wheels back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Julian Wilkinson
I would like to know why matting of some sort around the workstation isn't feasible as this would most likely solve the issue?
However it seems your choice of braked wheels was probably a good solution based on the flooring. Now it sounds like they are damaging themselves by trying to move the chairs as they would have done (sliding along whilst in the chair?) and may be its a matter of training, education and adjusting to change that is needed. But then I am perhaps assuming based on your question
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.