Improve ergonomics

Problematic

With the pandemic, all of the employees of this pharmaceutical company have fallen into telework. Many of them did not have adequate adjustments to their “makeshift” workstations and began to develop pain and discomfort.

Solution

Using a pre-intervention canvas completed by the employee, Olympe managed to understand a good part of the problems before the intervention. This allowed us to complete the adjustments during a virtual meeting by making the necessary modifications using common objects (Example: raising the screen with an old dictionary).

Problématique

With the pandemic, the vast majority of employees of this company have fallen into telework. Some employees unfortunately developed musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and in-person intervention was necessary.

Solution

Our ergonomists traveled directly to people’s homes to carry out interventions to offer quick corrections and economical solutions to promote the teaching of lasting and safe postural hygiene. Nothing is left to chance, our recommendations focus on the fit of work surfaces and chairs, as well as the location of peripherals. Always with the aim of promoting a reduction in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Problematic

In order to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and optimize the comfort of its office workers (workstations in front of a display screen), the city of Montreal provides ergonomic assessments to all of its 28 000 employees.

Solutions

Using an intervention framework, our ergonomists have carried out hundreds of interventions allowing us to offer quick corrections and economical solutions to promote the teaching of lasting and safe postural hygiene. Nothing is left to chance, our recommendations focus on the fit of work surfaces and chairs, as well as the location of peripherals. We also analyze light and sound environments as needed. By dealing with the “work environment” component, we can contribute to your efforts to obtain certification of the BNQ 9700-800 “Healthy Enterprises” standard.

Problematic

The workstations for the service department was designed solely with a view to promoting the customer experience and did not take the awkward (twisting) positions of the worker into account.

Solutions

The space has been completely redesigned and certain tasks have been redesigned in order to avoid unnecessary movements and, above all, to avoid awkward positions. This has resulted in the elimination of back pain and neck pain for workers.

Problematic

The position of picker and handler presents problems in terms of equipment, work organization, training and efficiency.

Solutions

The observations enabled us to identify the risk factors in the form of observations and to present various possible solutions;

• Make other employees aware of the difficulties experienced in order to facilitate their activity;
• Train the preparers in the handling of loads;
• Provide storage space for various types of components;
• Arrange the boxes and components according to their points and volumes;
• Offer height-adjustable pallet supports at the head of the rows;
• Acquire removable pallets to facilitate the recovery of the boxes located towards the rear;

Problematic

The reconditioning of the panels must be carried out at several positions, the operators must transport and handle the panels at the various positions, which increases fatigue and discomfort/pain by the cumulative weight and distance of movement.

Solutions

The analysis of the handling activity made it possible to identify the risk factors and to propose solutions making it possible to reduce travel with loads by reconsidering the location of the stations, facilitating the deployment of security strategies to facilitate the handling of panels using a specific formation. Reduction of the number of non-compliant panels with the participation of the department upstream of the process.

We also evaluated an exoskeleton model previously selected by the client. We demonstrated that it was not suitable and we proposed two models which are being tested.

Problematic

The three stations where sample analyzes are carried out generate discomfort and pain for different operators.

Solutions

With the participation of the workers, we were able to identify the nature, frequency and duration of the tasks and activities that are carried out, their conditions of execution, the tools used, the configuration of the layout of the premises and difficulties experienced at work. We were able to offer solutions for the three positions in the laboratory while respecting the strategies developed by the workers as well as the labor standards and regulations in force.

Several solutions were accepted by the committee, for example:

• Offer an electric slicer, adjustment of work surface height
• Replace the funnel with a device allowing faster flow of liquids related to sample processing,
• Provide a work surface with a geometry more suitable for handling the samples and measurement tools used.

Problématique

The objective of this intervention is to identify the determinants and constraints related to the activity for each of the three positions.

Solution

After interviews and observations with each of the operators, various solutions were proposed in collaboration with the managers of the sector.

Examples:

• Define a new path for gluing the optics on the plates by favoring the grip of the pistol with the left hand and the right hand, by installing mirrors to limit the neck bending during gluing;
• Provide adjustable tables and chairs to alternate standing/sitting postures;
• Equip certain workstations with removable shelves and drawers to increase the capacity and location of tools and assembly parts and accessibility;
• Provide a storage system for wire spools and a manipulator trolley for moving them;
• Provide assembly tools that are more comfortable to handle while increasing operator efficiency.

Problematic

The objective of our participation in the project is to offer optimal comfort to station agents for the metro boxes that are part of the extension of the blue line.

Solution

From interviews and observations, we made various recommendations and then validations using models to validate proposals allowing agents of all morphologies to be comfortably installed to serve the many users of the network. Everything has been thought of; the location of work equipment, the facilitation of communication between the agent and the clientele, the optimization of lighting, storage of various supplies as well as personal effects, etc.

Problematic

Patrollers experience discomfort while driving, involving the volume of the console and the location of certain components (screen, keyboard, printer, etc.).

Solution

To follow up on the analysis of a control group, more than 30 recommendations were submitted. A new layout with a narrower console and with a geometry that allows tall police officers to sit well and reduces interference causing discomfort with the weapon has been eliminated. The choice and placement of supports for the screen now allow all police officers, young and old, to sit comfortably. A fact sheet and a video will also be produced to help police officers learn how to sit behind the wheel properly.

Problematic

The seat as well as the display screens are not optimal and generate discomfort. The gaze directions are not efficient either.

Solution

After interviews and observations, we were able to formulate 32 recommendations on various aspects such as:

• Select a seat with more adjustment allowing small and large operators to settle;
• Define moments of breaks and exercises to restore the vigilance of operators;
• Create a poster and video to guide installation and adjustments;
• Define the size of the screens;
• Propose the location of devices allowing the screens to be easily adjusted to various heights;
• Adapt the lighting atmosphere to facilitate day and night work;
• And many more functions