Security is paramount in a manufacturing facility. Everybody needs their staff members to be wholesome and obtainable to carry out their jobs. Accidents are probably the most undesirable final result, usually falling into two classes: fast and progressive.
Quick accidents, corresponding to a reduce, burn, or damaged bone, require immediate medical therapy. Manufacturing amenities have private protecting gear (PPE) and security protocols to stop these accidents. Alternatively, progressive accidents construct up over time and could also be tougher to mitigate. A few of these progressive accidents embody listening to loss, respiratory points, and musculoskeletal issues (MSDs).
This weblog article will talk about pallet stacking security and the way this guide activity will increase the dangers of musculoskeletal issues. We’ll introduce 5 essential info and give attention to security inside three key industries: Meals & Beverage, Pharmaceutical, and Client Items Manufacturing.
Reality 1: The UK misplaced 149.3 million working days to MSDs in 2021 [1]
What are Musculoskeletal issues (MSDs)?MSDs are a gaggle of circumstances that have an effect on the muscle tissues, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and different mushy tissues of the physique. Repetitive motions, awkward postures, extended static positions, overexertion, and forceful exertions may cause MSDs. |
How palletizing techniques cut back MSDs in meals & beverage tertiary packaging
Reality 2: The incidence charge for MSDs in the US was 25.4 days per 10,000 full-time equal (FTE) staff in 2020 [2]
Working in meals manufacturing poses hazards. Whereas the trade has seen some profitable automation, meals and beverage manufacturing encompasses a remarkably numerous array of merchandise that make it difficult to automate absolutely. Meals and beverage manufacturing contains powders (sugar, flour, spices, child meals), liquids (soda, wine, cooking oils, dressings, sauces), dry merchandise (cereals, nuts, espresso), and perishable merchandise (fruits, greens, cheeses). Dense merchandise (corresponding to drinks and powders) could be cumbersome. Different merchandise (corresponding to liquids) could shift with motion, making it extra harmful for an individual to carry above their head or transfer under their waist. With regards to palletizing merchandise, choosing and putting require two key actions: again and shoulder flexion.
What’s flexion motion?
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Decrease again ache will increase when there’s a longer length of again flexion in gentle (20° to 40°) and extreme (>45°) positions (reported by the College of Buffalo) or excessive again flexion (>60° per Division of Kinesiology on the College of Waterloo). The guide palletizing of meals or liquids exposes individuals to each. Those that have skilled again ache know that restoration can take a very long time.
Reality 3: Injured staff within the US wanted a median of 14 days earlier than returning to work [2]
Nevertheless, introducing collaborative robotic (cobot) techniques in palletizing operations gives a promising answer. By assuming the bodily and repetitive pressure of putting merchandise on pallets, cobots mitigate the chance of Musculoskeletal Problems (MSDs) related to palletizing duties. For instance, these cobots can execute lengthy horizontal and tall vertical reaches that may be harmful for a human employee.
Whereas the meals manufacturing trade tackles the inherent challenges of automating all through the worth stream, integrating cobots in palletizing operations represents a proactive step in direction of enhancing office security and lowering the incidence of MSDs.
Pallet stacking security in pharmaceutical manufacturing
Like meals and beverage manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing encompasses a variety of merchandise. It contains merchandise corresponding to:
- Stable drugs: These embody tablets, capsules, caplets, and capsules, typically in blister packs, bottles, or jars.
- Liquid medicals: Pharmaceutical liquids corresponding to syrups, suspensions, options, and oral liquids are packaged in bottles, vials, ampoules, or sachets.
- Powders and granules: Powders and granules could also be packaged in sachets, pouches, bottles, or jars and may embody merchandise like antibiotics, dietary and protein powders, or granules for oral administration.
- Injectables: Injectable drugs, remedies, and vaccines are available in vials, ampoules, or prefilled syringes. These require particular packaging and dealing with as a consequence of their route of administration.
- Topical remedies: This class contains lotions, ointments, gels, lotions, and patches. These are packaged in tubes, jars, or sachets.
- Disposable sterile merchandise: Intravenous (IV) luggage, needles, infusion options, masks, gloves, face shields, and surgical kits require specialised packaging to take care of sterility.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs: OTC drugs can are available in varied types however don’t require a prescription. These embody ache relievers, cough syrups, antacids, and allergy drugs.
Given the various vary of pharmaceutical merchandise, packaging can fluctuate considerably in dimension, form, and weight. Some merchandise are heavy which poses a threat to staff manually putting them on pallets.
Reality 4: 15-20% of misplaced working days within the UK had been as a consequence of MSDs in 2021 [1]
Moreover, automated palletizing techniques play a significant position in defending the product being palletized. Given their typically excessive worth and delicate nature, minimizing product waste and harm is prioritized after employee security. Automated palletizers guarantee exact, constant dealing with and palletization, thereby lowering the chance of unintentional harm. By implementing automated palletizing techniques, pharmaceutical producers can’t solely improve employee security but additionally safeguard product high quality and integrity, in the end contributing to operational effectivity and regulatory compliance.
Lowering materials dealing with dangers in shopper items manufacturing
In shopper items manufacturing, the manufacturing surroundings is dynamic, with a variety of merchandise being processed and packaged. Client items embody varied gadgets, together with:
- Family Merchandise: cleansing provides, filters, pots, pans
- Workplace Merchandise: Printer ink, pens, pencils, paper, extension cords
- Electronics and Home equipment: espresso makers, headphones, laptop computer batteries
- Private Care Merchandise: cosmetics, hair care, oral hygiene merchandise
Guide palletizing in shopper items manufacturing poses further security dangers to staff. Merchandise tower on pallets, requiring staff to position merchandise each under and above waist degree. This apply will increase the probability of musculoskeletal accidents, notably when coping with heavy or cumbersome gadgets. Lifting, climbing, pushing, pulling, and pivoting are the first actions in guide materials dealing with (MMH) actions, which create a threat of harm on the again and shoulder.
Reality 5: MSDs are answerable for about $50 billion in annual prices within the US [3]
Automated palletizing techniques supply an answer to those challenges by lowering reliance on guide labor and minimizing the related threat to individuals. By automating the palletizing course of, these techniques alleviate the bodily pressure on staff and create a safer working surroundings. They will deal with all kinds of shopper merchandise effectively and precisely, making certain correct stacking and palletization with out the chance of human error.
Conclusion
Offering individuals with a secure working surroundings is a prime precedence for meals & beverage, pharmaceutical, and shopper product producers. Accidents, whether or not fast or progressive, pose important dangers to staff and may result in substantial lack of working days and productiveness. Musculoskeletal issues (MSDs) are among the many progressive accidents that may outcome from guide duties like pallet stacking, notably prevalent within the manufacturing of Meals & Beverage, Pharmaceutical, and Client Items.
Via the dialogue of 5 essential info, it turns into evident that bodily pressure, together with repetitive motions, awkward postures, and overexertion, considerably will increase the chance of MSDs. Nevertheless, the mixing of automation (corresponding to collaborative robotic techniques) gives a promising answer to mitigate these dangers. Cobots can deal with the bodily pressure of palletizing duties, lowering the probability of MSDs, growing pallet stacking security, and enhancing general office security.
Total, by embracing automation in palletizing operations, industries can create safer working environments, shield employee well being, and enhance operational effectivity, in the end resulting in larger productiveness and success.
The longer term is secure
At Robotiq, we comply with the rules of LEAN ROBOTICS to create a standardized answer that’s simpler to scale, repeatable, and simple to make use of. We make it simple to transition from guide palletizing to automated palletizing.
Implementation is simpler than you suppose. Speak with one in every of our automation specialists at present to kickstart your mission. (Your individuals will thanks).
If you’re able to make the transfer to automating your end-of-line course of, our FREE Automated Palletizing Purchaser’s Information provides you insider tips about discovering the perfect automated palletizing answer for your enterprise.
