Material handling safety is important for a number of reasons, one of which is its ability to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. According to data released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are among the most common types of work-related injuries, costing employers more than $45 billion annually in lost wages, lost productivity, and worker’s compensation. Employers can protect workers from MSDs, however, by promoting safe material handling practices in the workplace.

What type of material handling equipment does your business use? It’s no secret that the right equipment will improve both the quality and quantity of work output, while also reducing the risk of worker injury. When workers are forced to lift and manipulate heavy objects themselves, it can place them at risk for a wide variety of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including slipped/herniated disc, muscle sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis and more. But the lack of material handling equipment can also impact workers’ productivity, forcing them to exhaust additional time and energy to accomplish the same tasks.

Does your company use mechanical equipment to lift, move and/or manipulate materials? When compared to manualmaterial handling, mechanical offers several key benefits: it improves productivity, reduces the physical workload on workers, boosts worker morale, and lowers the risk of certain types of injuries – specifically those involving the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, spine, neck and back. However, there’s still an inherit risk of injury associated with the use of mechanical material handling, which is why it’s important for employers and workers to follow some basic safety tips.

Purchasing an engineered material handling solution can boost your company’s productivity in more ways than just one. These heavy-duty machines are designed to lift, move and manipulate a wide range of materials and objects. From large oil drums to airplane fuselage panels, there’s an engineered lifting solution for just about everything. So, how can they improve workplace productivity?

Do you work in the field of aerospace engineering? If so, you’re probably well aware of the physical hurdles associated with lifting, transporting and manipulating components of aircraft and spacecraft. While no two pieces are the same, components use in this industry are often heavy and awkwardly shaped, making them difficult if not impossible for workers to move by themselves. But investing in lifting solutions such as those offered here at EngineeredErgonomics.com can break down the barriers and allow workers to move aerospace components.