Wiedza
- Case study - implementation of the LOTO system in a production plant
- Lockout/Tagout - what is it and why is it worth introducing LOTO?
- Why is it worth implementing a LOTO system with Marcin from 4safety?
- Case study: implementation of a flexible barrier system in a manufacturing plant!
- Steel or flexible: which industrial bumpers should you choose?
- Case study: protection of high-bay racking with a flexible barrier system
- How to safely store lithium-ion batteries?
- Explosion of lithium-ion batteries — how to avoid it?
- Hazardous substances in the storage container
- Safe crane operating zone
- LED safety projectors
- Classification of flexible barriers
- Everything about IBM
- Do It Yourself - industrial printers
- The meaning of the padlock in the LOTO system
- Why is it worth using ergonomic mats?
- Anti-slip protections
- A catch basin is good practice or a regulatory requirement?
- Industrial shelving - types and applications
- About employee comfort and safety
- Frost and structural monitoring of the facility
- What information should a nameplate contain?
- How to prevent accidents with safety containers?
- Fire-resistant cabinet – what should you pay attention to when buying?
- Selection of a spill containment tray
- Hazardous substances - what to do in the event of a leak?
- Hazardous materials under the supervision of an ADR advisor
- What problems do industrial barriers solve?
- Color coding of pipelines – colors, arrows, inscriptions
- Lasers for communication routes
- Natural neutralization of substances
- Energy-intensive barriers – Types, characteristics and application
About employee comfort and safety
On the occasion of World Ergonomics Day, warm applause for everyone who can boast an ergonomic workstation ? For those who still do not pay attention to it, we are leaving another edition of our Industrial Espresso newsletter no. 3.
In this edition, alongside modern flexible barriers, we will present the problem of long-term work in a standing position together with a ready-made solution in the form of ergonomic mats.
Employee comfort
Do you know what largely affects the feeling of comfort while working? The position in which we sit/stand. Slouching at a desk, standing still for a long time, no breaks while working in front of a monitor. There are many more such unhealthy habits with tragic consequences. To a large extent, we ourselves influence how we feel and what we provide to our body.
Ergonomic mats
This is a combination of appropriate materials aimed at ensuring the highest possible comfort and safety of employees. Ergonomic mats have anti-fatigue and anti-slip properties, reducing the buildup of fatigue in a person standing on the mat.
Intended for people who work for a long time in a standing position. The specially constructed surface improves blood circulation in the employee's lower limbs at the workstation. It also has cushioning properties, thanks to which the spine, hips and knees of people standing on the mat are less strained.
Musculoskeletal disorders affect the functioning of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and other soft tissues and joints. Some professions related, for example, to extended time working in a standing position on hard surfaces may be the cause of this type of ailment. Static work and uncomfortable positions may be additional factors influencing their development.
Statistical data concerning musculoskeletal disorders divide these ailments into three categories: upper limb disorders, lower limb disorders, and back pain. These health-threatening disorders develop slowly - initially the symptoms may be mild, but over time they intensify. Gradually, they lead to troublesome pain, and sometimes even to acute conditions significantly affecting quality of life and everyday functioning.
A properly designed, equipped, and properly organized workstation can help avoid this type of problem. Statistics from years such as 2011/12 state that as a result of this type of problem, 7.5 million working days were lost - on average, each person complaining of such disorders was absent from work for at least 17 days.
Employee safety
Ergonomic mats are already a commonly known solution in industrial plants. However, not everyone realizes that ergonomic mats can also be made in an ESD version.
ESD mats are work surfaces and floor mats that protect employees from shocks caused by static electricity and also protect the tabletop and the sensitive electrical devices on it from damage.
Static electricity is everywhere. In many facilities, people are one of the main generators of static electricity. The simple act of walking or even sitting on selected surfaces can generate several thousand volts on the human body, especially in winter, when the air becomes drier.
Static buildup is usually unnoticeable until it is discharged – a phenomenon known as electrostatic discharge. Like lightning, static electricity is constantly building up and seeking the shortest path to ground. When a discharge occurs, the employee may feel an extreme shock.
If the discharge was felt, it was probably over 2000V. If the discharge was audible, it could have been between 3000 and 5000V. And if a blue spark appeared when it occurred, the shock was most likely greater than 10,000V.
On the topic of employee comfort and safety, we also encourage you to visit the blog created by #OHS specialist Artur Lipowicz.
