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Physical stresses

Physical stresses arise through unfavourable body postures, rapid or sustained body movements, high force exertion, the handling of loads, or a combination of these aspects. The stresses manifest themselves in strain upon the muscles, locomotor apparatus and spine. Machines and their control stations should be engineered such that stress factors are reduced to a minimum. A risk assessment assists in estimation of a work situation. Corresponding information can be found in the EN ISO 12100 standard and the EN 1005 series of standards.

Location of control actuators

Correct positioning of control actuators on machines is important in order for them to be reached and to be operated safely and comfortably. Attention should be paid here to design in consideration of anthropometric aspects and to the conditions of movement. Relevant information concerning the positioning of control actuators is summarized for example in EN 894-4.

Variable driver's and operator's station

Sitz Crown TSP 7000 Hochregalstapler © Michael Hüter

Variable driver's and operator's station On Crown high-rack order pickers, the driver's control station can be adjusted to the needs of the... more

Adjustable control and display element

Einstellbarer Arbeitsplatz eines Bedieners ermöglicht optimale Sichtachse und verhindert Blendeeffekte © Michael Hüter

Adjustable control and display element The control panel on the Trumpf Trubend 7000 range consists of a touch display in which display and... more

Hand-held control unit for machine tools

Fernbedienung die positionsunabhängige Maschinensteuerung ermöglicht © Michael Hüter

Hand-held control unit for machine tools The remote control of the machine is a miniature, cable-linked control module that combines... more

Overview

Visibility conditions

Visibility is important for the viewing of relevant areas of work, such as the inside of a machine tool or the area in front of a forklift truck. Constrained visibility can lead to unfavourable body postures or elevated mental stress.

Adjustability of operating panels

Ergonomisch verstellbarer Display für Fräsmaschinensteuerung © Michael Hüter

Adjustability of operating panels On the DMG Ergoline Control, the angle of the display and of the lower keypad is adjustable. This... more

Variable driver's and operator's station

Sitz Crown TSP 7000 Hochregalstapler © Michael Hüter

Variable driver's and operator's station On Crown high-rack order pickers, the driver's control station can be adjusted to the needs of the... more

Tilting driver's cab

Schubmaststapler mit kippbarer Kabine um Belastung für Genick zu vermindern © Michael Hüter

Tilting driver's cab A tilting driver's cab assists in reducing the necessary angle of head inclination. Such a cab... more

Overview

Auxiliary equipment

The use of auxiliary equipment at work can substantially relieve the stress upon workers, for example during the transporting of loads or exertion of high forces. In order for such auxiliary equipment to be used effectively however, the machines in question must be adapted to it. For example, in order for a crane to be used in order to load a milling machine, it must be possible for the top of the machine shrouding to be opened.

Material: plastic

Kunststoffhubwagen I-Ton sind erheblich leichter und reduzieren somit den Kraftaufwand © Michael Hüter

Material: plastic The use of new types of material enabled the weight of the pallet truck presented here to be reduced... more

Drives for doors on machine tools

Türsteuersystem mit Steuergerät und Motor ohne manuelle Kraftanstrengung © Michael Hüter

Drives for doors on machine tools Electric door drives can be retrofitted to existing machines in order to reduce the operating forces... more

Retractable step

Zusätzlicher Tritt der beim Auf- und Absteigen bei hohen Einstiegen hilft © Michael Hüter

Retractable step The Grifa softstep is a retrofitable step which is retracted after boarding and, when descending... more

Overview

Motional range

The freedom of movement that a worker has at his or her workplace is important not only for reasons of comfort; insufficient room to move can lead to unfavourable body postures and may even cause accidents.

Folding load floors

Transportwagen mit klappbaren Regalböden für angenehmes Be- und Entladen sowie einsetzen von Hebehilfsmitteln © Michael Hüter

Folding load floors The LKE 800 E3 shelf trolley possesses two shelves on the upper level that can be folded up out of... more

Vertical open machining concept

Offenes, vertikales Betriebskonzept ermöglicht Hilfsmitteleinsatz bei großvolumigen Bauteilen © Michael Hüter

Vertical open machining concept The vertical design assures open access to the workpiece holder from the front and from above. For... more

Diagonal door opening

Über-Eck Türöffnungen vergrößern die Durchgangsöffnung und vermindern ungünstige Körperhaltungen © Michael Hüter

Diagonal door opening On machines in the MVC Spinner range, the safety doors are located not on the front of the machine,... more

Overview

Exertion of force and handling of loads

Load handling is an issue wherever heavy weights need be transported. High forces may also have to be exerted during work, for example for the opening and closing of guards on machine tools. This places stress upon the human musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. In order to reduce the stress on workers, facilities must be fitted to machines to reduce the forces to be exerted and the loads to be handled. Relevant information on risk assessment of the forces to be exerted and loads to be handled can be found in the EN 1005-2 and EN 1005-3 standards.

Automatic loading of trolleys onto trucks

LKE Multiliner © Michael Hüter

Automatic loading of trolleys onto trucks The LKE MultiLiner can automatically load different types of trolley weighing up to 500 kg. The... more

Platform hoist

Höhenverstellbarer Plattformhub ermöglicht sicheren Stand sowie Zugang zu höher gelegenen Waren © Michael Hüter

Platform hoist The platform hoist on the order picker raises the worker at the driver's platform to a height of... more

Manual force control for manipulators

Balancer mit Handkraftsteuerung von ZASCHESitec © Michael Hüter

Manual force control for manipulators Where the height is controlled by detection of hand force, sensors are integrated directly into the... more

Overview

Postures and movements

Static body postures must be assumed during almost any task. Wherever possible, these basic postures should lie within a range that is comfortable for the persons adopting them. Ideally, workers should be able to select their basic posture (e.g. sitting or standing) themselves. The machines should be designed to permit this, for example by the allowance of sufficient legroom for a task to be performed in a seated position. Extreme body movements (such as bending down to the ground) should also be avoided, particularly when frequent. Corresponding information can be found in EN 1005-4 and EN 1005-5.

Tilting driver's cab

Schubmaststapler mit kippbarer Kabine um Belastung für Genick zu vermindern © Michael Hüter

Tilting driver's cab A tilting driver's cab assists in reducing the necessary angle of head inclination. Such a cab... more

Hand-held control unit for machine tools

Fernbedienung die positionsunabhängige Maschinensteuerung ermöglicht © Michael Hüter

Hand-held control unit for machine tools The remote control of the machine is a miniature, cable-linked control module that combines... more

Platform hoist

Höhenverstellbarer Plattformhub ermöglicht sicheren Stand sowie Zugang zu höher gelegenen Waren © Michael Hüter

Platform hoist The platform hoist on the order picker raises the worker at the driver's platform to a height of... more

Overview