From wearables to apps that track movement, technology has fast become key to helping employers reduce musculoskeletal injuries. Citing confusion over the matter, the National Safety Council on Wednesday issued a white paper on how employers can best pursue such technology.
In examining products and services available, researchers found that computer vision “may be a helpful tool” for large organizations that can effectively aggregate and analyze ergonomic risks across their business.
In instances where implementing engineering controls is not financially feasible, researchers found that workers may benefit from the use of wearable sensors, which can provide real-time feedback to reduce back injuries caused by poor posture, over-reaching and improper lifting.
To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders caused by manual materials handling, organizations may consider adopting passive exoskeletons, which have been shown to reduce muscle activity by up to 40% and, in one case study, decreased worker fatigue by 45% and boosted organization output by nearly 10%.