Workplace ergonomics - UK firms foot the bill
February 1st 2004 According to statistics, manufacturing firms have higher absence levels than service sector companies, losing 7.4 days compared with 6.5 days, while manual workers are off work on average 3 days more than non-manual staff. The Institute of Directors cites stress and muscular skeletal disorders (MSDs) - damage to muscles, joints and tendons, nerves and ligaments - as the two issues most commonly associated with worker illness and absence, and these can occur in any industry.
In the UK alone about 1.2 million workers suffer
MSDs caused by their work. This results in 10 million lost working days per year - with sickness absence
often a warning sign. Simple protective measures can often prevent MSDs. Using an anti-fatigue mat
protects workers who have to stand for long
periods of time, such as on a factory or shop floor,
by increasing blood-flow to supporting muscles in the legs and lower back and preventing immobility in the joints.
LINPAC Plastics manufactures a range of
packaging for fresh food at 26 locations worldwide.
The company maintains a policy of continuous improvement in quality and production and has a
strong focus on employee health and safety.
In keeping with this ethos of innovation and improvement is the recent purchase of TMC anti-fatigue mats, which addresses key health and safety issues as well as improving the morale of workers in the manufacturing area. According to Alison Harling, Team Leader in the Thermoforming Department at Linpac Plastics based in West Yorkshire: As part of our ISO 9002 quality accreditation and our internal health and safety management system we are regularly audited on issues, such as manual handling and risk assessment.
It is vital that we continuously review the working conditions of our staff, particularly those workers who carry out repetitive, manual tasks over long periods of time, she continued.
Part of Harlings responsibility is to oversee the working conditions and well being of the staff in her own department. The department operates a shift pattern, whereby 26 staff per shift work in the Thermoforming department for 12 hours at a time.
The workers are on their feet all day packing. The job also involves turning and twisting of the knees which puts a strain on the back, said Harling.
Standing on an
anti-fatigue mat ensures that leg muscles subtly contract and expand as they adjust to the
flexibility of the mat. This in turn increases
blood-flow and the amount of oxygen that reaches the heart, greatly reducing fatigue. Independent
research has proved that this reduced muscle stress
and increased circulation can lower fatigue levels by 50%.
Since many were complaining of aching legs, I decided to look into anti-fatigue matting, to relieve some of the pressure of standing and walking, while carrying out the work, said Harling.
Harling approached TMC mats and a competitor to obtain product recommendations and quickly decided that TMCs Diamond-Plate Spongecote 415 matting was the most suited for her needs. The rubber matting is bonded to a soft air-cushioned Nitricell base layer, making it both resilient and durable while offering a high degree of comfort.
I was really impressed with the recommendations from TMC, said Harling. I did look at competitive products, but found that TMC Mats not only had the sponge backing for extra comfort, but they could also be easily customised to provide the 5m length that I needed for the area where the staff walk.
The mats also have ramped safety edges that fit flush to the floor, avoiding tripping hazards, as well as yellow borders to make them more easily visible. Over a period of just three months, Harling has already placed four orders for the customised matting, each piece measuring 3ft by 20ft long according to her specification.
The experts from TMC mats were very efficient and very knowledgeable, which made it very easy to choose the right products quickly, said Harling.
Since implementing the mats, Harling has noticed improved morale among her staff as well as less tiredness. They were impressed at the difference that the mats have made. They have also been pleased with the fact that we have put the extra thought and investment in their well being, she concluded. More articles from TMC Mats Ltd: | 
