ergonomic risks

Ergonomic Risks in Poultry Deboning

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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 poultry deboning line can better prepare you to invest in equipment and proper training to lower those risks and keep your employees safe. Here are just some of the ergonomic risks listed out by deboning task:

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conveyor safety

12 Simple Ways to Improve Conveyor Safety

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Conveyor safety is essential in a food processing facility.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 39,100 people operated conveyor belts in 2012. These people make sure product loads and unloads correctly, grab product off of a moving conveyor, and align product correctly on the belt.

It’s rare to find a medium-to-large sized food processing facility that does not have people working near conveyors. They are an essential part of any efficient processing plant.

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ergonomics

Ergonomics in Food Packaging

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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 ways to reduce the stress, awkward posturing, and heavy lifting that could easily lead to employee injuries.

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saw safety

Industrial Saw Safety Rules

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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.

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prevent ergonomic injuries

Prevent Ergonomic Injuries

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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 equipment can not only prevent employee injuries, but save you a lot of money in the process.

We’ve put together a simple chart to help you discover the best ways to prevent the most common ergonomic injuries:

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safe knife handling

Safe Knife Handling Practices

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Knives are often a part of any cutting operation line and can pose a safety risk to your employees if not handled correctly. While most sawing equipment comes with safety guards and kill switches, hand-held knives aren’t equipped with that luxury, and the safety of your employee comes down to knowing proper safe knife handling practices.
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ergonomic risk factors

How to Avoid Ergonomic Injuries in Meat Cutting and Shredding

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Workers in the meat cutting and shredding industry are at a high risk for experiencing the most common of ergonomic injuries: musculoskeletal disorders.

Most food processing companies will invest in equipment to keep workers safe from cuts associated with slicing and shredding, but tend to overlook preventing injuries that arise from awkward posture and repetitive movement tasks that can be just as debilitating.

Cuts happen in an instant and the effects are seen immediately. Musculoskeletal disorders develop over time, and can affect even the safest of workers.

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staircase safety

How to Improve Staircase Safety

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Staircases pose a serious safety risk to workers throughout the country.

OSHA estimates that there are roughly 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls from staircases and ladders. Nearly half of these injuries are serious enough to require time off the job — 11,570 lost workday injuries are reported annually.1

The high number of workplace injuries surrounding staircases should capture the attention of facility and safety managers in every food processing plant. Something as simple as workers walking up and down stairs can cost companies thousands in employee injury payouts. Read more

overhead platform

Overhead Platform Safety Tips

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Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths – and incorporating an overhead platform into your processing plant increases the possibility of employees being injured by a fall, especially when the proper measures haven’t been taken to ensure employee safety.

When purchasing a mezzanine or other overhead platform into your processing plant, safety should be key. A few simple adjustments made during the design of your mezzanine can provide a number of safety benefits to your employees – and save you thousands in employee injury claims.
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Lift

A Safer Way to Lift

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Many food processing tasks require employees to exert force – such as lifting, pushing, pulling, and moving – on heavy objects. These actions are often necessary in the manufacturing process, but they are also contributing factors to back injuries as well as other musculoskeletal disorders.

Lifting especially takes its toll on the body, resulting in fatigue and injury when not done properly. Some common lifting tasks in a food processing plant include dumping products into vats, stacking products onto pallets, transferring product from one workstation to another, and placing product on conveyors that are not adjusted for employee height.

While it may be impossible to completely do away with lifting in your manufacturing process, there are some simple solutions that will reduce the risk of employee injury and save you the high cost of employee down-time.
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