Safety at Work: Reduction of repetitive motion injuries in packing stations
When it comes to packaging and shipping in EVi®, solutions are evaluated that address the scenario to be improved and/or possibly innovated at 360 degrees, starting from the small details that, if well thought out, often determine great advantages.
In this case, it is considered a “side effect” that damages the most important thing in the first place… the health of the operator and, consequently, the entire packaging and shipping process.
Repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or other hand-joint conditions, are a common concern among shippers operating packing stations, particularly when there are many packages to be closed, different weights, and housed in boxes with uneven dimensions.
Repetitive motion injuries are one of the most common causes of claims for compensation for permanent damage due to accidents at work, costs that, in addition to weighing on the company’s economy, have significant social repercussions.
What can shippers, especially high-volume e-commerce operators, do to prevent these workplace injuries?
From our experience in the field and from the comparison with experts in the sector, some interesting considerations arise relating to the safety of packaging stations.
Why are these injuries so common among packing station workers?
History and practical findings from evaluating different shipping centers indicate the widespread use of hand guns to seal packages as one of the reasons for these injuries. In particular, in environments with a high volume of shipments, these handheld tape guns can result in wear and tear on the hand, wrist, and elbows, resulting in abuse of a particular muscle or group of muscles; This causes injuries and injuries that are often solved only with surgery and long hospitalizations.
To avoid these accidents , the most valid solution is certainly the use of WAT tape (water-activated tape) and its dispensers.
In fact, it has been found that switching to dispensers with WAT tape considerably reduces injuries in packaging stations because the operator does not need to repeatedly pull, push and tear the tape to close the packaging as in the case of using a portable tape gun. Manual or electric dispensers for WAT belts really help eliminate traumatic pathologies and “carpal tunnel syndrome” in packing stations because their use does not require repetitive force movements in the hands, wrists and elbows of operators.
How the use of WAT and related dispensers impacts the production process
In addition to protecting the health of operators, the introduction of the WAT solution in end-of-line packaging increases productivity, safety and packaging image.
Unlike traditional adhesive tape dispensers, which often need to overlap multiple strips of plastic sealing tape and “hope for the best”, WAT dispensers use a water-activated tape which, being moistened, creates a strong bond with the surface of the packaging when it is applied. The welding that is created between the strip and the packaging allows the use of a single strip of strip; this means that the WAT tape is both easy to use and effective in its functionality and, due to its construction characteristics, guarantees extreme closure security.
Reliability and security
All EVi WAT Dispenser proposals are studied, designed and manufactured for practical, safe and ergonomic use for the end operator. Solutions using WAT dispensers make packaging operations reliable and safe.
Cost-effectiveness
As an initial investment, the proposed solutions are positioned in an economic range but immediately generate monetary advantage; For example, the dispenser dispenses and cuts only the amount of tape you need, which translates into immediate savings.
Professionality
Customers who use WAT appreciate the professional appearance of the packaging updated to the aesthetic needs that the packages must have to meet the demands of the end customer. The possibility of making the packaging totally green and then being able to dispose of it in a single solution further increases the professional image of the company.
Learn more and try WAT
Wondering if WAT tape can help your organization make your product shipments safer?
Contact us, we will be happy to tell you about our experiences in the field and present the best solutions to meet your requests!!