Focus On Ergonomic Design Improvement

Focus On Ergonomic Design Improvement

Focus On Ergonomic Design Improvement

In industrial caster applications that are manually operated, ergonomics is always a major concern. Ergonomics is the science of designing the job, equipment, and workplace to fit the worker. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability. Proper ergonomic design can relieve stress on the workforce, keeping them healthier while gaining more productivity. The ease of starting a cart, equipped with industrial casters, in motion or the ease of turning a cart is affected by many different aspects of the caster design. This article will describe some of the details that must be taken into account when designing an industrial caster for improved ergonomics.Wheel Hardness - The harder the material contacting the floor, the easier the caster will roll, which reduces the force required to start and keep the cart in motion. This is because harder materials will have a smaller patch of material in contact with the floor, thus reducing the force required to begin motion. Forged steel and cast iron wheels will roll the easiest; however they are also hardest on the floor and increase noise levels. Softer tire materials such as rubber and polyurethane will require higher forces to start the casters in motion, but they have the added benefits of reducing noise and protecting floors. One can also use a variety of different hardness (durometer) of the polyurethane to minimize floor damage and maximize rollability.Tire Profile - The shape of the tire can also affect how much force it takes to start the caster in motion. Flat face wheels will require a higher force to start the caster in motion than balloon tread wheels for a common tire material. This again is due to the amount of material in contact with the floor - less material in contact leads to lower forces required for motion. A middle ground is usually a tapered face tire which falls in the middle of the flat and balloon tread contact patches. If a tire is polyurethane or rubber, the tire thickness also can affect ergonomics. Thicker tires will compress more under load and increase the contact patch with the floor. So for a given tire material, a thinner tread wheel will be easier to move. Swivel Lead - Swivel lead can affect the turning ergonomics of a cart equipped with industrial casters. The longer the swivel lead is, the easier the cart will be to turn. However, increasing the swivel lead can have negative affects as well, such as reducing the load capacity of the caster. . It is important to balance the required load capacity of the cart with the ergonomic optimization. Wheel Diameter - As wheel diameter increases, the rolling resistance of the wheel decreases so larger diameter wheels will be easier to roll than smaller wheels assuming all else equal. Designing the application with the largest wheel possible to minimize the need force to start the cart in motion.Improving ergonomics is important in the workplace and the correct caster design can be a large factor in the overall ergonomics of a cart. The forces required to move a cart equipped with casters can be reduced by using a harder wheel/tire material, increasing wheel diameter, and using a thinner tire is a rubber or polyurethane tire is used. The ease to turn a cart can be improved by increasing the swivel lead. As you can sense from the article, there are numerous variables that impact the ergonomic design of the application and all these variable impact the overall function of the cart. The challenge is always about maximizing the functionality of the cart/application while minimizing the ergonomic impact of the cart on the employee.

POST COMMENT

Find Yourself Facing Criminal Prosecution for Retail Theft/Shoplifting - Consult With an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer The Difference Between Being Self-Employed and an Entrepreneur The Growth Of Banking Sector Offers Jobs In Bank With A Steady But Glorious Improvement Built Chicken Coop - Important Tips For Beginners Which often Self-protection system Meets your needs? Easy Self Hypnosis Techniques Lacking Self-Confidence? Boosting up Our Self Esteem List Of Subliminal Messages from Top Self Help Books Investing In Climate Controlled Self Storage Buildings? Five Top rated Day Spa Companies to Pamper Oneself With Are the hCG Diet Dangers Real? Be the judge yourself based on the real facts Giving of Yourself