Wearwell FAQ's-Anti-Fatigue Matting

We get alot of questions about ergonomic matting, so I thought this would be good information to pass on. Wearwell (some of you know them by Tennessee Mat) is the leader in anti-fatigue and ergonomic matting and Ergonomic Partners is a proud distributor of their product. If you would like a catlaogue, please drop us a note at sales@ergonomicpartners.com.

Ten (10) Frequently asked Questions
1. Can you customize this mat?
At Wearwell® we specialize in customizing mats and we are efficient and good at it. If we customize a product, i.e. make a mat that is a custom width or in a unique configuration, a "C" on the catalog page. It looks like this
2. Chemical Resistance - We field many questions about which mat will hold up to specific chemicals or industrial fluids. If you are asked a question regarding Chemical Resistance of a particular mat, we recommend you follow these steps.
Look at the Chemical Resistance Chart in the back of our catalog. Since it is organized by compound, it's a good guideline and starting point.
If your chemical is not on the chart, feel free to call us for further guidance. Before you call, please have specific information including if possible, an MSDS of the chemical in question.
If the chemical is quite caustic, or if we cannot definitively answer your questions, please request a sample to test.
3. How do I clean my mat?
We provide Mat Cleaning Guidelines in the back of the Wearwell® full line catalog
4. What is the life expectancy of this mat?
Life Expectancy - The life expectancy of a mat can vary dramatically depending on a multitude of factors such as: number of shifts per day, amount of foot traffic, exposure to oils, caustic chemicals or fluids, excessive temperatures, cleaning and maintenance schedule, compound, etc. The following is general representation of what our customers experience (your experience may vary):
5 Years or more - Urethane Mats (Ex: Rejuvenator®)
3 to 5 years - SpongeCote® Mats (Ex: Diamond-Plate SpongeCote®) and Injection molded PVC (Ex: ErgoDeck®)
2 to 3 years - Molded Rubber Mats (Ex: 24/Seven®)
6 to 12 months - PVC Sponges (Ex:Tuf Sponge)
5. What are the acceptable matting tolerances?
Acceptable tolerances vary by product type. For example, Tire mats may be as much as three (3) inches longer or shorter than requested due to the materials used and the manufacturing process. In the case of runner matting, it is widely accepted that the matting may be 1 to 1 1/2" narrower than specified. Length is not always exact either. Certain materials have a tendency to shrink and others to expand depending on the weather conditions and the manner in which they are packaged.? We do however, strive to insure all of our products are as close as possible to the size specified in our catalog or required by our customers.
6. Are there tests that prove that anti-fatigue mats actually work, i.e. that they reduce fatigue and increase productivity?
Yes. We have an excellent summary of the most often cited tests and a year-long productivity trial conducted at a manufacturing plant in Tennessee . These tests are summarized in a document called "Dynamic Ergonomics" and is available from Wearwell® on a CD or as a pdf. Please call for a copy.
7. What is the difference between a Conductive and a Non-conductive mat?
A Conductive mat protects sensitive equipment by drawing static electricity off workers before they touch susceptible chemicals or apparatus. Humans quickly generate static electricity through the friction caused by walking or using chairs with casters. Then with a simple touch, this static electricity is passed to sensitive equipment such as a computer. One such shock can destroy internal microchips or cause a spark that can ignite flammable chemicals. However, if the person steps onto a conductive mat before touching the equipment, the static is conducted off his or her body, and out the mat through the grounding snap.
Most commonly called Switchboard Matting, non-conductive mats insulate and protect workers from deadly shocks generated by high voltage equipment. (This type of electrical shock is dangerous because it has high amperage.) These mats will not allow the electricity to conduct through the worker, and hence protects workers from serious injury.
8. I have a conductive anti-fatigue mat, but my employees still get static shocks and I am afraid this ESD is damaging our products. What is the problem?
There are two possibilities:
The mats are not grounded. Every Electrically Conductive mat has a snap to connect to a ground cord which then must be must grounded to an electrical outlet or similar conduit. If the mat is not grounded there is no place for the static electricity to go. The employees will still be able to pass it on to the equipment.
The employees have insulative shoes and are not wearing heel-grounders. Most shoes have soles that are not designed to conduct electricity (i.e. any shoes with rubber soles for example). In order to allow the static electricity to flow off the employee, he or she must wear heel grounders and the long fabric strip must touch his or her skin.
9. What does Coefficient of Friction mean?
Coefficient of Friction or COF is the measure of traction provided by the surface of the mat. It is a measurement of force that must be exerted before an object slips. Therefore, the higher the number, the better the traction. OSHA recommends a COF of .5 in dry areas and .25 in wet. The ADA recommends .6 on flat surfaces and .8 on ramps
Our GritWorks!® products are the best Wearwell® mats to use in slippery areas. GritWorks!® - This is our line of abrasive-coated, molded rubber mats. They are the only gritted, molded rubber anti-fatigue mats on the market. The grit system provides an exceptionally high level of traction (40% higher than OSHA recommendations) and is featured on all of our abrasive coated mats including Grit-Top Comfort Deck® No. 461.
10. How can I tell how soft a mat will be?
The actual test for softness is determined by the material and manufacturing process of the mat. There are two that conform to Wearwell® products:
Compression Deflection - This is one way of measuring the softness or comfort level of a sponge mat. It measures how much a person's foot sinks into the mat - the higher the reading, the softer the mat. The results are affected by the thickness of the sponge backing and the flexibility of the surface material. We consider .20 - .5 the ideal range. The test is ASTM D575.
Durometer - The measure of hardness/softness of molded rubber and molded PVC mats. As a general rule, the lower the durometer, the softer the mat. Most of our mats range between 45-70 durometer. We consider 45-65 ideal range for molded rubber mats. The test is ASTM D2240.

New state regulations on repetitive stress injuries

Check out what Michigan is doing--it exceeds what California has done the only other state to have similiar regulations. We have sympathy for small business, but all businesses should look out for their employees. When all is said and done an ergonomic lift assist, anti-fatigue matting, overhead crane or jib, etc... is much cheaper than a single back injury. Besides preventing injuries, the workers are much happier due to reduced fatigue and injuries. It still applies to the old saying "you can pay me now or pay me later".


New state regulations on repetitive-stress injuries may cause extra work for employers
by Mark Fellows Michigan Business Review
Thursday August 28, 2008, 6:45 AM
Courtesy PhotoDavid Rhoa of Lake Michigan Mailers with an ergonomic mail sorter.New state regulations targeting repetitive-stress injuries on the job would require more employers to offer ergonomic training and work to correct reported injuries.
The proposed rules, outlined for two regulatory panels Monday, would impose new costs on already hard-pressed Michigan, critics say, while supporters call them a reasonable response to growing concern about workplace injuries.
The standards would exceed those of California, the only other state to institute such regulations, while making it easier for state regulators to punish employers for repeated worker injuries.
"It's a significant issue, even though the standard is fairly minimal," said Doug Kalinowski, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration director.
STANDARDS
Draft MIOSHA ergonomic standards would include:
• All employees would be given ergonomics training covering occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders, symptoms, and reporting procedures.
• Employers would be responsible for involving employees; assessing risk factors; and eliminating, reducing or controlling ergonomic hazards "where economically and technically feasible."
• Employers with an existing "effective ergonomic program" would be judged to be in prior compliance with the training and assessment/response requirements.
"It's been very contentious," he said, noting that a two-page draft regulation reviewed by two MIOSHA advisory committees Monday took another panel four years to develop.
Federal OSHA estimates in 2001 put the cost of repetitive-stress injuries on the job at $20 billion annually, or about a third of employers' total workers' compensation costs. Standards proposed by federal regulators at that time were estimated to cost employers $5 billion, but those were blocked by congressional action.
The last thing businesses need is more paperwork, said Todd Anderson, a lobbyist for the Small Business Association of Michigan.
"Especially when we've actually shown in our statistics that injuries due to ergonomics are going down without any regulations," Anderson said.
Small employers, in particular, would be hit by new training and reporting regulations, he said, as larger companies often already have their own ergonomics programs and would be exempted under the draft rules.
Manufacturers, too, are girding to oppose the long-planned rules.
"It's a pretty broad issue and there are a lot of costs involved," said Amy Shaw of the Michigan Manufacturers Association.
"We don't know what true costs are going to be until we know how strict the department is going to be in enforcing this."
The rules would cover only general industry, specifically excluding construction, agriculture, mining and domestic employment.
"I believe at some point this thing will spill over into the construction side," said William Borch, a labor representative on one of the commissions reviewing the proposed rules.
"There are many within the building trades, or ironworkers, that suffer from repetitive-motion injuries," said Borch, the Saginaw-based president of Ironworkers Local 25.
"The problem is that, much like asbestos ... these types of injuries are not an imminent danger, even though they can be career-ending types of injuries and cause long-term pain and suffering," he said.
Like recently rewritten standards for communications towers, he said, the proposed rules represent a minimum set of standards and "It doesn't seem like a lot to ask."
Small-business advocates argue that maintaining productivity and minimizing downtime and workers' compensation costs is inducement enough to offer ergonomically safe workplaces.
"It's simply going to increase our costs of operation," said David Rhoa, president of Kalamazoo-based Lake Michigan Mailers Inc.
"The presumption of this type of legislation - legislation that goes beyond what (federal) OSHA currently has in place - is that without this legislation, employers wouldn't care about injuries or potential injuries to their employees."
Lake Michigan Mailers four years ago invested in a mail sorting and barcoding machine that reduces repetitive twisting, stooping and bending by its operators, he said.
MIOSHA does not take a position on the proposed rules at this point, Kalinowski said.
Regulators already inspect employers and issue recommendations where ergonomic issues become apparent, he said. They also occasionally invoke sanctions under the general duty clause of workplace regulations.
Business advocates view that as basic due process, said Charles Owens, director of the Michigan chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business.
"It will make us uncompetitive with rest of country," he said, "and it's just astounding that they're contemplating even making this rule mandatory."
Mark Fellows is managing editor of Michigan Business Review. Contact him at (248) 374-4911 or markf@mbusinessreview.com.

If you do need help with an industrial ergonomic lifting solution, please contact Ergonomic Partners at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Hoist Magazine to name end users to Advisory board

Hoist magazine had the following press release...
News
Hoist to name end user advisory board
16 August 2008
As part of ongoing efforts to further engage the end user community, Hoist has unveiled plans to name an advisory board, compiled of overhead lifting equipment end users.
Editor Richard Howes said: "When I took over the editorship of Hoist in May 2006, I made it priority to increase the magazine's exposure among end users. Getting those with purchasing power, and those who use and operate equipment within their facilities, onto the circulation list has been no quick-fix, but we're getting there."
The industry has been asked to hand-pick its first panel members.
Put simply, the board will demonstrate to readers and those who invest in the product that it is going to the right people in the business, and that the title is willing to listen and adapt to the needs of the industry.
As a board member, end users will be among the first invited to contribute to new print and online initiatives.
Manufacturers and crane builders have been asked to put forward customers who they feel would be specifically suited to this project. End users themselves can also put themselves forward or recommend colleagues.
The first members could be unveiled as early as the September or October issues.
For more information, or to submit your recommendations, contact editor Richard Howes at rhowes@progressivemediagroup.com.
Hoist is the only international factory crane magazine. Here you will find the latest news, product finder, reference information and more covering bridge cranes, jib cranes, chain hoists, wire rope hoists, blocks, end-of-line attachments, components and the installation, maintenance, training, consultancy and trade associations surrounding this equipment.


For more information on overhead cranes please contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Gorbel to be at CeMAT Asia

We have seen Gorbel workstation cranes, G-Force Lift assists, and jib cranes being introduced to all forms of manufacturers for the last 20 years. Well Gorbel is at it again by opening a factory to serve the Chinese Market. Gorbel announced they are going to be in CeMAT Asia, October 27-30th at the Shanghai Expo Center. I especially mention this because Ergonomic Partners can help your company with expansion projects you may have in China. Drop us a line at sales@ergonomicpartners.com and we can work with your engineers in the States, or put you in contact with the factory in China.

Jeremy Gao, a spokesperson for Gorbel (Tianjin) Crane Co., Ltd., the Chinese manufacturing facility of US-based work station manufacturer Gorbel, says he is hoping for a wider cross-section of visitors from industry with purchasing-power at the Chinese show this time around.
"We do hope this year will be busier," he adds, saying, naturally, "more visitors would bring us more business opportunities."
Gorbel will exhibit from its enclosed track work station cranes. It will display a free standing work station crane, "which covers a rectangle area and a work station jib crane, which covers a circular area," Gao explains.
Since Gorbel Tianjin only opened in May 2006, many of its products are still new to Chinese market, despite its more than 20-year history in the USA.
"Gorbel is growing fast in the Chinese market," says Gao. He continues: "We have done a good job in the past two years and we hope for more success in the near future."

We even have a free demo of the Gorbel G-Force which can be brought into your plant. Drop us a line at sales@ergonomicpartners to set up a meeting.

New research centers for occupational injury prevention

Liberty Mutual has always been a very respected company, and once again are on the cutting edge. Read about their center for Physical Ergonomics.

Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety Extends Management Team
Last update: 2:27 p.m. EDT Aug. 13, 2008
BOSTON, Aug 13, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Drs. Nils Fallentin and Marvin Dainoff have joined the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, part of Liberty Mutual Group, as directors of two newly established centers: the Center for Physical Ergonomics (Fallentin) and the Center for Behavioral Sciences (Dainoff).
"To position the Research Institute to address emerging needs in occupational injury prevention, we have reorganized our efforts into four research centers," said Dr. Ian Noy, director of the Research Institute. "Together with the two existing Centers for Epidemiology and Disability Research, these two new Centers will enhance our research capability and impact. While our mission remains the same, Nils and Marvin will play a critical role in developing new capacity and programs that will take us into the future."
As director of the Center for Physical Ergonomics, Dr. Fallentin and his team will explore new approaches to understanding physiological and biomechanical mechanisms of injury. The Center will improve the Research Institute's understanding of workplace exposures such as manual materials handling and slips, trips and falls, which together account for about half of the total burden of serious injuries. Dr. Fallentin joins the Research Institute from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Copenhagen, Denmark. He holds a M.Sc. from the Department of Exercise and Sports Sciences and a Ph.D. in Human Physiology from the August Krogh Institute - both located at the University of Copenhagen.
At the Center for Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Dainoff will direct research focusing on the behavioral, cognitive and organizational factors underlying workplace injuries and highway collisions. The Center's research will look at topics in risk communication, organizational safety climate, alternative work systems, and driver performance. Dr. Dainoff joins the Research Institute from Miami University, Ohio where he has been a professor of psychology, founding director of the Center for Ergonomic Research, and currently holds the position of Professor Emeritus. He received both his B.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Rochester. Dr. Danioff is a past president of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and is currently serving as director on the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics.
"Nils has impressive credentials, both in terms of technical depth and management experience, and Marvin brings high level perspectives in systems science, human-systems integration, cognitive engineering, and macroergonomics," continued Dr. Noy. "The experience and energy they bring to the Research Institute will complement and strengthen our research. We look forward to working with them to bolster our research program."
Born out of Liberty Mutual's commitment to help people live safer, more secure lives, the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety has helped improve the occupational safety and health of workers for more than 50 years. Through laboratory and field-based investigations, the Research Institute seeks to advance scientific, business-relevant knowledge in workplace and highway safety, and work disability. Research findings are shared with the worldwide health and safety community through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. Ultimately, these findings are used to develop recommendations, guidelines, and interventions that help reduce risk and control costs.
About Liberty Mutual Group
Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified global insurer and sixth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2007 direct written premium. The Company also ranks 94th on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2007 revenue. As of December 31, 2007, Liberty Mutual Group had $94.7 billion in consolidated assets, $82.3 billion in consolidated liabilities, and $25.9 billion in annual consolidated revenue.
Liberty Mutual Group offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, assumed reinsurance, fire and surety.
Liberty Mutual Group ( www.libertymutualgroup.com) employs over 41,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world.
SOURCE: Liberty Mutual Group

For a free look at your ergonomic application contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Material Handling Institute of America funds Ohio State research

Distribution centers often are full of applications for better handling of materials. We often see a forklift for the large pieces but the rest of the material handling is largely manhandled. There are normally numerous applications for lift tables, tilt tables, ergonomic anti-fatigue matting and lift assists to help the worker with smaller loads. This is MHIA's first ever direct funding of a materials handling and logistics research.

MHIA will give $50,000 to Ohio State University for a research cneter which has the primary goal of distribution ergonomics.

MHIA through its "College Industry Council on Material Handling " will provide the $50,000
grant.

The main goals per the proposals authors are:

"Create a research center that develops and evaluates ergonomic methods, tools and processes that will allow distribution center workers to work more safely and efficiently "

"Develop partnerships between regional DCs and materials handling equipment manufacturers to assist the DCs in becoming “workplaces of excellence” with the proper use of ergonomics and lean engineering. "

MHIA also announced they wish to continue to award grant money for future contracts.

For even more information on equipment for ergonomic material handling please contact sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Ergonomics for those kids heading back to school

With kids heading back to school we need to think about their huge loads of books and how they carry them. I have lifted my kids backpacks and they must weight 30# or more. We worry about spending thousands on lift assists for our workers for similiar loads, so to spend a little more money on a good backpack and telling them how to use it properly and safely should be a no brainer.

Kids & Backpacks - Ergonomics & Proper Use


Over the next month or so, our kids will be heading back to school. As we prepare them for the year ahead, one thing that is often overlooked is the need for a good backpack. Many schools no longer provide locker space; so a full day’s worth of books are being carried from class to class as well as to and from school. These are heavy loads for a developing body. A good, general rule of thumb is that children should not carry more than 10 to 15% of their body weight. Yet, a study by the American Physical Therapy Association found that over 50% of children are carrying more than the recommended weight. The use of improperly used backpacks may be contributing to pain and fatigue in school aged children and increasing their risk for spinal injury and back pain (Is Your Child's Backpack Making the Grade? Physical Therapists Offer Tips to Lighten the Load on Children's Backs; August 3, 2006).The U.S. National Safety Council issued a list of warning signs that your child's backpack may be too heavy:

A difference in posture when wearing the backpack.

Significant difficulty in putting the backpack on or taking it off.
Complaints of pain or discomfort when the backpack is on.

Red marks on the skin from the backpack straps.

Feelings of numbness or a tingling sensation, especially in the back or shoulders.

Here is a summary of 5 tips for reducing the injury risk of backpack use (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center News - Backpack Safety Tips, August 15, 2006).



Keep backpack use limited to necessities only. Only keep needed books and supplies in the backpack to limit the weight being carried. Help your child clean out the backpack frequently to remove items that do not need to be brought to school.

Distribute weight evenly. The weight of the backpack should be evenly distributed with both straps used. Holding the backpack slung over one shoulder can pull the child to one side causing the shoulder muscles to develop unevenly, promoting poor posture, and causing strain on the shoulder, neck and back. A backpack that is too heavy or has the weight is distributed unevenly pulls the child backward causing the child to bend forward at the hips or arch his or her back promoting compression of the spine.

Recognize signs that the backpack is too heavy. Look at your child’s posture when he or she is wearing the backpack. Are the shoulders uneven? Is the head pushed forward? Is the child bending at the hip? These are all signs that the pack is too heavy or unevenly distributed.

Select the proper backpack. Look for ergonomic design, multiple compartments that can help distribute weight, padded straps that distribute the pressure across the shoulders, backpacks with wheels (make sure that it is sturdy, does not topple over, and has a long enough handle that the child does not have to slouch over to pull it). The American Physical Therapy Association also recommends that the backpack have hip and chest belts to transfer some of the backpack weight from the back and shoulders to the hips and torso and reflective material to enhance visibility of the child to drivers at night.

Pick up the backpack properly. Teach your child to pick up the backpack using good body mechanics. Bend at the knees and lift with the legs and the hips, not with the back. Grasp the backpack with both hands.
Marji Hajic is an Occupational Therapist and a Certified Hand Therapist practicing in Santa Barbara, California. For more information on hand and upper extremity injuries, prevention and recovery, visit Hand Health Resources.

The above from http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art25804.asp/zzz by Marji Hajic.

Another Gorbel Case Study--The Gorbel Easy Arm

Gorbel Easy Arm is one of the best pieces of lift equipment for many applications. It can be used in many applications when integrated with custom under the hook lifting devices. To get more information on this lifting device see http://www.ergonomicpartners.com/gorbel-easy-arm-articulating-jib-crane.htm or email us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com.

Easy Arm™ Helps Eliminate Back Strain in Machining Application...
"The Easy Arm™ doesn’t slow me down at all. It moves as fast as my arm moves, and it’s the easiest lifting device I’ve ever used.” - Machine Operator
A machining station at a manufacturing plant for recreational sport vehicles starts with a raw steel casting and loads it into a machine for cutting, shaping and refinement. The raw castings arrive at the work bay in large bins and are unloaded onto a conveyor with a mold for the flywheels to sit into.
Operators had been moving each piece by hand, often bending low into part bins. “The parts don’t seem very heavy at first,” said the machine operator. “By the time you get to the end of a shift though, you’ve got soreness in your back, shoulders and arms. It starts to add up.”
A company-wide assessment of ergonomics brought this application to the foreground, and a process change was called for.
Find out more about this case study and the solution chosen

Gorbel contimues to be an innovator in lift assists. Give us a call at 314-402-7775 if you need any more information.

Kinesis Corporation still a pioneer in Ergonomic Design

I have used the Freestyle keyboard described below and it is the best keyboard I have ever used. Just thought you might like to read about a true pioneer in the field of office ergonomics. This is one of the little guys who beat Apple and Microsoft to the punch on their first ergonomic keyboard.

Bothell firm still easing pain using ergonomics
Kinesis releases its most flexible keyboard to date
By LYNSI BURTONP-I REPORTER
BOTHELL – Before text messaging and the click-happy cyberculture conspired to compromise fine-motor skills everywhere, Kinesis Corp. in Bothell saw the need to ease our technological pain. It released the first commercial ergonomic computer keyboard in the U.S. in 1992.
Having beaten Microsoft Corp. and Apple to the punch, privately held Kinesis remains a pioneer in ergonomic office technology, with a new keyboard, the Freestyle, released in April 2007.
The Freestyle is the first keyboard in the market to separate completely at the middle, allowing maximum latitude for both hands. The two pieces detach with the push of a button, permitting custom separation and tilt to fit the body size and posture of the user. Like all Kinesis keyboards, it comes in personal computer and Mac versions.
As Kinesis' most customizable keyboard to date, the Freestyle can be arranged in several configurations, which better addresses the needs of corporations and families.
At $99, the base-model Freestyle is also Kinesis' most affordable keyboard. Its price allows companies to take an active approach in supplying employees with safer keyboards, while allowing Kinesis to appeal to a more mainstream audience.
"For us that's a huge opportunity," said Jon Biggs, director of sales and marketing. "That's a major breakthrough."
So far, the premise seems to be working. In 2008, the Freestyle's average monthly growth rate in sales has been 21 percent, Biggs said.
Kinesis got its start in 1991 with Will Hargreaves, who has a doctorate in cell biology and a background in medical research. He developed carpal tunnel syndrome after demolishing his deck and thereafter found using a standard keyboard difficult.
"Once you get that kind of injury," Hargreaves said, "you're really sensitive for life."
Inspired by a low-profile ergonomic keyboard he found in England and troubled by the significant upswing in repetitive-strain injuries at the time, Hargreaves developed the Contoured keyboard, a space-age-looking device with the keys arranged in separated sunken wells that reduce lateral hand movement. At the time it sold for $700, but Hargreaves said consumers shelled out the money because many were facing the prospect of surgery and badly needed a solution. The Contoured keyboard was featured in the 1997 Will Smith movie "Men in Black" and now sells for $299.
Kinesis' keyboard was quickly followed by less radical counterparts from Comfort Keyboard Systems and Apple Computer. Microsoft released its ergonomic Microsoft Natural in late 1994.
Because the Microsoft version looks less strange, costs less and features a trusted brand name, it sells in the millions. Kinesis sells in the tens of thousands, Hargreaves said. So Kinesis diversified in 1996, gradually adding additional office products to its line, including ergonomic pointing devices, chairs and keyboard trays.
The explosion in repetitive-strain injuries began to taper off after 1994, Biggs said. Ergonomic equipment helped many people retain jobs or return to work.
"(There were) thousands of people who were facing disability who could get back to full productivity with the classic Contoured (keyboard)," Hargreaves said.
Leah Darrow-Stano, owner of Blue Water Ergonomics in Seattle, is an occupational therapist who consults with businesses on how workers can relieve workplace pain and return to work after injury. She draws from a variety of ergonomic vendors and began using Kinesis products about three years ago. She mainly uses its keyboards, working with employers to equip offices with ergonomic products and treating specific employees with injuries.
"The keyboards make enough of a difference to eliminate the pain in computer use," Darrow-Stano said.
She likes supporting Kinesis because of its local founders and because the products are adaptable to specific injuries and body types, which is a feature other companies do not offer, she said.
Kinesis has a more organic marketing style, limited to online sales, resellers, corporate direct sales and word-of-mouth in the blogging world.
"We're not in the big-box stores," Biggs said. "We've never labeled ourselves as a commodity."
Still, Kinesis has a big-name following, with clients such as Google, Hewlett-Packard, Boeing, Intel and even Microsoft. This year the company is seeing record sales, Biggs said, with revenue already up 25 percent over last year. He said July was a record month for sales.
Kinesis products are developed and built in back rooms at the corporate offices in Bothell. Biggs, Hargreaves and director of manufacturing Carsten Buus make up the research staff and provide mechanical and intellectual expertise. Keyboard prototypes are built with plastic, hot glue and door hinges.
Kinesis is trying to educate the public and fight the prevailing belief that office injuries are a small problem, Biggs said. A 2002 Emory University study found that more than half of newly hired office workers experienced neck and shoulder pain during their first year.
Hargreaves believes ergonomic office equipment needs to be treated like anti-lock brakes and air bags in cars – as basic expectations. And when people break out of their "comfort zones," he suggests, they will discover the benefits.
"Someone who's not even looking for an ergonomic keyboard," Hargreaves said, "can find something."
EASE THE PAIN
The flat, rectangular design of standard keyboards is known to cause strain in the wrists, forearms, shoulders and neck, and heavy use can ultimately lead to severe injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Will Hargreaves and Jon Biggs of Kinesis Corp. (kinesis-ergo.com) offer these guidelines when customizing an ergonomic keyboard:
Keep shoulders square. Standard keyboards force the hands close together, straining the neck and shoulders. To alleviate this tension and straighten the shoulders, hands should be placed at shoulder width.
Decrease pronation. In this case, pronation refers to the flat positioning of the hands. Downward-facing palms are an anatomically unnatural position and make the forearm muscles tense. Tilting the hands 10 to 20 degrees allows for a more natural configuration and relaxes the muscles.
Re duce ulnar deviation. Ulnar deviation is the bend in the wrist created by the hands being placed close together on the keyboard, coupled with outward-pointing elbows. That happens because the width of the shoulders does not match the distance between the hands. Ulnar deviation constrains the nerves and ligaments in the wrists, causes inflammation and can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Ideally, there should be a straight line from the elbows to the fingertips.
Eliminate wrist extension. Upward-tilting hands create wrist extension, which, like ulnar deviation, constricts blood flow to muscles in the wrists and contributes to carpal tunnel syndrome. Using palm rests alleviates this tension and maximizes blood flow.
– Lynsi Burton

from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/374562_kinesis12.html

For industrial ergonomic lifting contact sales@ergonomicpartners.com or visit www.ergonomicpartners.com

Overhead Cranes come in many packages

Below leads into what we have been telling people for years. Cranes have always been on peoples minds when you talk about big pay loads, but now loads of 25# and more have people talking about how to handle them. Our specialty is combining custom lifting devices onto Gorbel G-Force Lifters, Balancers or air/electric hoists and hanging them from a workstation crane, or jib.


Up and away with overhead cranes
Make best use of the cube. It's been said so many times, and has never had greater value than now. Yet, so many managers think only of higher racks and new mezzanines to minimize footprints and maximize vertical space usage. But their options don't stop there.

Quite literally, overhead cranes add a new dimension to the movement of materials in a facility. While conveyors and lift trucks are focused on moving inventory, work-in-process, and finished goods at or near floor level, cranes do most of their work well above the floor and often at ceiling height. This, in turn, frees up the floor for other activities, making overhead cranes a space saver in addition to being an efficient way to move loads.

Long known for their ability to transport loads of many tons from one end of a facility to another, cranes are equally adept at moving much lighter loads within the relatively small area of an individual workstation.

In fact, the latter has taken on increasing importance as the ergonomics of handling loads has received greater scrutiny. Twenty-five pounds is now considered to be at the high end of the manual lifting range, not 50 pounds. Similarly, it is estimated that nine out of 10 loads handled in industry weigh 300 pounds or less, considerably less than what was once the case.

The end result is that enclosed-track workstation cranes are now much more widely used than they once were. At the same time, jib and gantry cranes are often used at workstations as well as other applications. Bridge cranes, the fourth type, are the heavy lifters, handling not only the largest loads but those that need to travel the greatest distance in the least amount of time.

All four types of cranes can be used in warehousing/distribution operations as well as manufacturing. Except for steel service centers and similar operations, however, cranes are most often associated with manufacturing operations.

Regardless of the specific application, each crane type offers its own range of movement, both directionally and in distance, while handling loads of various dimensions and weights. In addition, the frequency of moves differs by crane type.

While most cranes are either electric or air powered, some are operated manually. As with other types of materials handling equipment, manual operation is generally confined to applications handling the lightest loads and the least frequency of use.

In all of this lifting, lowering, and moving of loads, cranes can't do it all. They are typically used with hoists tailored to the job at hand. See the Click-on at mmh.com for a rundown of the types of hoists and their applications.

A crane for every load
Bridge cranes make the biggest impression of the four types because they move loads of many tons from one end of a large facility to another. The standard configuration is two steel girder runways attached to the building at ceiling height. In some cases, the crane is positioned further down the wall of the building. Either one or two additional girders span the two runways, creating the bridge. The bridge girders are attached on each side to an end truck that travels along the runway.

Applications run from heavy manufacturing, fabrication shops, and steel service centers to large paper roll handling. The various designs are suitable to specific requirements.

Top-running double-girder bridge cranes generally carry the heaviest loads, as much as 100 tons. True to its name, this design has two parallel girders mounted on top of the runway beams. The hoist is mounted on a trolley that runs atop the girders, maximizing the lifting height of loads. As with all other bridge cranes, the combination of hoist, runway, and bridge movement provides six directions of travel for any load.

Top-running single-girder bridge cranes are much the same but have only one bridge between runways. This design requires the hoist's trolley to run along the lower flange of the girder, reducing lifting height somewhat as well as carrying capacity.

There are also two underhung bridge crane designs. Rather than having the girder on top of the runway, these have the bridge girder trolley running along the lower flange of the runway. Capacity of both single- and double-girder underhung cranes are less than the top-running ones. Lifting height is reduced also.

Traditionally, overhead bridge cranes, especially top running ones, have been under the control of an operator that rides in a cab attached to the bridge. Unfortunately, the frequency of moves often leaves the operator idle a significant portion of the shift. With that in mind, many users are looking at other control options - pendant or radio remote control.

Both put the operator on the floor, and allow maximum use of that person's time. Pendant controls are hard wired to the crane, requiring the operator to walk with the crane as it moves. The drawback here is the inherent inflexibility of movement and potential for accidents as a result. Radio remote control eliminates that inflexibility and potential danger, allowing the operator to remain in one position as the crane moves. Both pendant and radio remote control can be used with other types of cranes too.

A cousin of the bridge crane is known as the gantry. This floor-mounted type uses either a single or double leg to support the bridge that the hoist trolley runs along. While the double leg design supports both sides of the bridge, a wall rail provides the support on the other side of the single leg. In both cases, the leg travels along a floor rail.

The enclosed-track workstation crane is another takeoff on the overhead bridge. Much like the double-leg gantry, these can be built anywhere in the plant or warehouse. It consists of four vertical columns that are anchored to the floor to create the four corners of the crane's work envelope. Two parallel runways connect the columns on each side. An underhung bridge in the form of an enclosed track with a hoist on a trolley moves from one end of the runway to the other, providing the range of motion for the workstation. Loads under 50 pounds or greater than 1,000 pounds can be easily lifted and moved with great precision within the work envelope.

The final category of cranes is the jib, which is not a derivation of the bridge crane. As with the other types, jibs come in several different designs.

The simplest is the wall-mounted jib crane. It consists of a horizontal girder that attaches to the wall with a pivot. A steel cable extends from the end of the horizontal beam at a 45 degree angle to an anchor point on the wall above the crane, providing support. The pivot allows the beam to swing 180 degrees. The range of motion of the hoist and its trolley as well as the load is limited to the length of the beam.

A floor-mounted jib replaces the wall with a vertical column that can be placed anywhere in the facility. Depending on the pivot mount, the jib can swing 180 or 270 degrees. A floor-mounted, free-rotating column design provides 360 degree range of movement, as does a ceiling-mounted rotating column jib. Another floor-mounted version places the vertical column on a floor-mounted runway, allowing the jib to travel some distance. Similarly, a wall-traveling design allows the horizontal beam and its load to move along a runway mounted above the beam.

As can be seen, not only do cranes add a new dimension to materials handling, but they are a match for a load of any size.

From Modern material Handling, http://www.mmh.com/TalkBack/Comments?talk_back_header_id=180239&articleid=ca180239&article_id=180239


For any of your overhead crane needs contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com for more information.

JD Nuehaus air hoist for the food industry

JD Nuehaus air hoists are good fro a wide range of applications. Just ask us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com and we can give you a full rundown of their diversity


JDN Air Hoists for the Food Industry

JDN Air Hoist Profi 05 TI in motorised Low Headroom Trolley Download, RGB, 72 DPI
The food industry makes highest demands on the hygiene and the quality of the applied hoists. Thereby it's not sufficient that these hoists are working efficiently and economically. Furthermore air hoists have to be designed in such a way that no oil will be emitted with the exhaust air and that they can be fast and easily cleaned. A further requirement is a low maintenance. Corrosion resistance is a must. J.D. Neuhaus offers the food industry air driven hoists and trolleys which meet all these requirements.
JDN Air Hoists have a patented motor-brake system that requires no additional lubrication. Thus no lubricant particles were emitted to the environment with the exhaust air. The surface of the hoists and trolleys can be plated with nickel. That makes the products corrosion-resistant, durable and faciliates the cleaning, because the smooth surfaces prevent the ingress of dirt. Furthermore the hoists can be equipped with stainless steel chains, load sleeves and hooks. The few number of components provides for low maintenance, economical operation and high reliability.
Typical JDN Products for the food industry are the air hoists of the Profi series with carrying capacities from 250 kg up to 2000 kg (available up to 100 t as standard). The corresponding trolleys make the Profis mobile. Whether in standard version or in low headroom trolleys, if only low spaces are available. For extremely low spaces we offer the JDN Ultra-Low Monorail Hoists. Even for Big Bag Handling applications JDN has the appropiate hoists. With one or two hooks and capacities of 1000 kg and 2000 kg.
By the way, due to the driving medium compressed air all JDN Air Hoists are suitable for application in hazardous areas.

These are the easiest air hoist on the market to rebuild. Even our sales people can do it!!

If you would like more information, please contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Prevent Office Pain

Below are some common sense approaches to sitting at your desk and working in the office, which you all probably know...but sometimes forget!


Biz Bits: Office ergonomics 101
Practicing proper ergonomic principles at work helps ensure comfort and reduce injuries in the office. Ergonomic products like the Fellowes Professional Series Gliding Palm Support relieve wrist pressure and help prevent musculoskeletal disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome.

GateHouse News Service
Posted Aug 01, 2008 @ 08:34 AM

Tip of the Week: Prevent pains at the office

Kevin Butler, a board-certified ergonomist and consultant for Fellowes Inc., recommends incorporating the following techniques at work to ensure desk dwellers stay comfortable and healthy from head to toe:

- Eyes: Sit approximately an arm's length away from your monitor, and position the top of the monitor screen at or slightly below eye level. Take mini breaks every 10 to 20 minutes to rest the eyes from the glare of the monitor.

- Shoulders: Keep your shoulders relaxed and in a neutral position as you type. Keep your elbows close to your sides as you use the keyboard and mouse. Take a moment every so often to roll your shoulders up and back to alleviate tension.

- Hands and wrists: Keep your wrists straight and in a neutral position. Keep the bottom of your elbows even with the keyboard height, not below.

- Back and legs: Adjust your chair so your thighs are parallel to the floor. Sit back in the seat so that your lower back is supported firmly by the chair or a support cushion. Place your feet on a footrest to relieve "pull" on the lower back. Make sure to get up and stretch your back and legs every hour. (ARA)

Must have chair?

We all know someone who has to have the the latest product. Maybe you have even had a boss who has the best chair while you sit in an old wooden chair! Well read on....we will keep you updated on its final price to the public.

An office chair – designed at a cost of $1.5 million by the designers of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati – is now available in the UAE.
The Aresline Xten ergonomic office chair, designed by Italian company Pininfarina, is state-of-the-art luxury for the fashion conscious.
“The race is on for branded luxury furniture in the UAE, and this trend is also being seen in the office segment.” said Ajai Dayal, general manager, retail and marketing, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group. “We believe the Ferrari chair from Aresline will be a winner among UAE residents.”
Available exclusively at OFIS, a division of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, the Aresline Xten ergonomic office chair includes dynamic fabric utilised by Olympic athletes for durability, and Technogel that forms to the contour of the body and reduces seating pressure and fatigue by over 60 per cent.
“This chair is only for the elite executive,” said Pauly Jos, sales manager, furniture, OFIS. “The time and effort that has gone into designing this chair is similar to that of designing a new car. It is a ‘must have’ product for the UAE’s leading CEOs.”
The chair is unique in its manufacture and design. It is the only office chair in the world with Dynamic Synchronized Tilting so that the back and the seat adjust independently of one another at complimenting angles.
“The money has not just gone into the look and feel of this chair. It is the most comfortable office chair I have sat in and incorporates some of the most advanced technology on the market today,” said Jos.
OFIS is the only UAE supplier of major international brands including Aresline, Ergo, Interface, Benel, DVO, Zuco, and Bosse. – TradeArabia News Service

Worker Health Risks

Is the current administration looking out for the worker? See the below article.

Bush Admin. Rushes to Issue Secret Rule on Worker Health Risks>Archive - Daily Online
Author: World Combined Sources People's Weekly World Newspaper, 08/09/08 13:59

In a last minute action, political operatives at the US Department of Labor are rushing to lock in new requirements that would make it harder for the next administration to develop and issue protective workplace health rules. This new rule would change the procedures and criteria OSHA and MSHA use to assess worker health risks when developing new standards. It would add years of delay to the standard setting process and weaken protections for workers. This cynical move by the Bush administration comes after eight years of failing to protect workers from job hazards, starting with the repeal of OSHA’s ergonomics standard in 2001. Since then, the Bush administration has withdrawn dozens of pending rules, and refused to set needed standards on crane safety, silica, tuberculosis and noise. The administration has issued only one OSHA health rule – on hexavalent chromium – and that was a result of a court order. This risk assessment rule was never listed on the public regulatory agenda. It was developed in secret by political operatives without the involvement of OSHA and MSHA scientists, and sent in July to the Office and Management and Budget (OMB) for review. If this measure goes into effect, it will cripple future efforts to set workplace standards for chemical hazards. The proposal would: * Require a new unnecessary extra step to seek comments on risk assessments before issuing any proposed health rules, adding years of delay to setting new standards. * Change the criteria that OSHA and MSHA standards protect workers if exposed over a working lifetime of 45 years, and instead base exposures on the average of years working in an industry. This would increase permissible exposures for all workers and put long-term workers, including coal miners, construction workers and chemical workers at much greater risk of developing disease. * Go into effect without the public hearings, which have been conducted for all other OSHA health standards. We need to act now to stop the Bush Administration’s Secret Rule: * Send a letter or e-mail to Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao demanding that she withdraw this rule that will put workers in danger. (1-866-4-USA-DOL; TTY: 1-877-889-5627; via e-mail * Contact your Congressional representatives and urge them to support and cosponsor legislation to block the DOL secret rule (H.R. 6660). * Share this information with your co-workers and urge them to take action.

Need an ergonomic grill--read on

Take a look at a local St Louis entrepeneur who has dealt with ergonomic design for years. He has designed everything from Gatorade bottle to an ergonomic grill with "green" charcoal made from coconuts!

ORACLE: BRYCE RUTTER: MASTER OF ERGONOMICS
'The tolerance for poorly designed products is decreasing dramatically'
NATALIA WILLIAMS
Special to The Globe and Mail
August 2, 2008
In the time it takes for most of us to settle into a chair, Bryce Rutter, the Canadian-born founder and chief executive officer of St. Louis-based ergonomic-design firm Metaphase Design Group, has deconstructed it, pinpointed its failings and figured out how to make it better.
Rutter's brand of ergonomics, though, isn't of the big, unsightly office-chair variety. Rather, his creations are as style-minded as they are handy, marrying industrial design with kinesiology, both of which he is schooled in.
For the past 25 years, Rutter has been applying his expertise in a slew of industries, overseeing the ergonomic research behind everything from a sleek mouse design for Microsoft in 1993 to spa-inspired tweezers and pedicure products for Revlon.
More recently, he has focused his sights on outdoor grills, designing his own line of compact, eco-friendly barbecues. (See Page 6 for more information.) He is also set to launch a "green" cooking charcoal made from ground coconut shells that give off water vapour.
Paying a visit to Toronto recently, Rutter spoke to Globe Style about the beauty and necessity of good ergonomic design, whether it's for toothbrushes or luxury cars.
When did your interest in ergonomics start?
I had a passion back in college for the human body. And I've always been fascinated with what psychologists know, what surgeons know. I thought it would be powerful and empowering to bring all of these skills and knowledge bases into design and use them to design from the inside out.
Have you noticed more demand for well-designed products?
I think there is a demand. Consumer experience is broader and deeper. Our expectations from one product category are carried over to another one. If you drive a cool car and everything works well and then you pick up, say, a subpar razor, you think: "Hmm, this is lousy. Why can't they do what they did with my car?"
Why aren't ergonomics a more prominent part of residential design?
I can't figure that out. But what's been really neat is that the architectural community is listening more now. For instance, I have been having discussions with people at HOK [the global architectural firm] about the potency of combining ergonomics and industrial design with architecture.
You were involved with some of Oral B's most popular toothbrushes. How did you reconcile ergonomics and aesthetics?
With Reach as well as others, it's really about making the thing work well. We spend a lot of time on that before we worry too much about the aesthetic aspect of a product because it doesn't matter how cool it looks if it doesn't work well.
Aesthetics, however, are important. When you walk into a store and look at a wall of toothbrushes, it's often how you decide which one to buy.
But the starting point in design should be research?
Yes. And that's where one big mistake is often made. In many cases, you hire a design firm and you say you need a new thing and they immediately sit down and start drawing or maybe they do a bit of armchair research.
But the more thorough we are in that first round of ergonomics and design research, the more we'll have a specific understanding of what's broken, what needs to be fixed and where the innovation opportunities are.
How does one identify a truly ergonomic product?
There is a lot of faux ergonomics; people are using it as a marketing term now. That contributes to the bad rap that ergonomics sometimes get. But if something is intuitive, if there's ease of use or lack of complaint, it's ergonomically designed.
What is on your list of well-designed products?
I love my car, a Lexus LS430. They thought about everything, down to the windshield wiper. When it rains, and after you've turned the wiper off, there's always that one little line of water that dribbles down. Well, someone thought about that. These windshield wipers, a minute later, do one wipe. I love that! I love that thinking.

for industrial ergonomics please see www.ergonomicpartners.com
*****