On the material-handling floor, it all comes down to being productive and profitable. But, due to the rising costs associated with workplace injuries, we can add “ergonomic” to that list as well. In fact, today, ergonomics—in this case, optimizing the interaction between operator and machine—is a key influencer for purchasers of manual material handling equipment.
Case in point: many employers are reducing workplace injuries in light- to medium-load-handling environments by replacing traditional manually operated I-beam jib cranes—the culprit of most push-pull repetitive-motion injuries—with more ergonomic work station cranes.
Out in the field, Gorbel’s Work Station Cranes are meeting the demand for ergonomic function and performance. The crane’s unique design allows for easier positioning and movement of product than standard jibs, making it perfectly suited for the easy transfer of loads, while minimizing common repetitive-motion injuries such as back, neck and shoulder strains.
As a leader in the materials-handling category and a proponent of ergonomic work station crane technology, Gorbel commissioned a third-party study in an attempt to quantify the ergonomic advantages of work station cranes over standard I-beam jibs. Here’s what they found:
