Employees working with awkward posture is one of the leading factors of musculoskeletal disorders in a food processing plant. Reaching across a conveyor, lifting heavy loads, twisting and bending at a work station, raising product overhead are common tasks in a food processing plant — and all raise the risk of employee injury. Prolonged reaching, stretching, bending, twisting, kneeling, squatting, and working overhead (the seven
There is a high risk for work related injuries in the food processing industry. Reaching across a conveyor, lifting heavy loads, twisting and bending at a work station, performing repetitive tasks, working in awkward positions, operating dangerous equipment – all tasks commonly found in processing plants – are leading risk factors for injury. According to the California Department of Labor Statistics and Research, the food processing industry has
Proper safety training is critical when hiring new employees for your food processing plant. According to the California Department of Labor Statistics and Research, workers in food-processing plants have a higher likelihood of being hurt on the job than workers in many other industries.1 Reaching across a conveyor, lifting heavy loads, twisting and bending at a work station, performing repetitive tasks, and working in awkward
According to the California Department of Labor Statistics and Research, workers in food-processing plants have a higher likelihood of being hurt on the job than workers in many other industries.1 Reaching across a conveyor, lifting heavy loads, twisting and bending at a work station, performing repetitive tasks, and working in awkward positions – all tasks commonly found in processing plants – are leading risk factors for
Ergonomic stands have become staple equipment in any food processing facility. The differing heights of employees, mixed with the growing awareness of musculoskeletal disorders caused from stretching, twisting, overreaching, and repeated awkward movements, has made ergonomic stands necessary to keep employees safe and accident reports (and costs!) down. A facility without ergonomic stands opens itself up to a greater risk of employee injuries and a
A standard poultry deboning operation includes six main tasks – each with it’s own ergonomic and safety risks. While ergonomic risks exist in any processing operation, due to the constant and repetitive motions involved in manning processing work stations, poultry deboning has a number of safety risks as well – from the use of knives, trimmers, and pullers. Knowing the typical ergonomic risks associated with a
As with any equipment found in your plant, conveyors pose a safety concern for your employees. Improper usage, poor training, and lack of safety procedures contribute to employee injuries around conveying systems.
The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) has established 12 safety standards for bulk handling conveyors. Following these standards should be the starting point for your conveyor safety training.
Most bagging and packaging operations require employees to stand in a single location and perform repetitive movements all day. Some require heavy lifting or awkward postures to get the final product into its proper packaging – not the most ergonomically sound practices. While there is no way around requiring your employees to be at a singular packaging station all day, there are a number of
Incorporating industrial saws into your processing operation may be necessary, but poses a safety threat to your employees. Improper setup and usage of saws can result in the loss of body parts and even death of an employee. However, properly installing your saw and following the saw safety rules mentioned below will not only protect your employees, but make your saw safe for everyone around.
A good number of injuries incurred in a food processing plant are the result of poor ergonomics. Awkward postures, heavy lifting, repetitive movements, hard concrete flooring, overstretching due to equipment being too tall or too short – all are factors that play into employee injuries. The good news is that injuries resulting from poor ergonomics are preventable. A small investment in employee training and ergonomic
