Reduce Physical Stress on Workers | India

The ez-Wheel EW1A Assist Wheel Drive (AWD) series is designed to improve productivity and efficiency, and to reduce physical stress on workers when transporting heavy loads.

We previously published a short post about Assist Wheel Drive - in this article, we'll look at some of the advantages in more detail.

A high load capacity makes Assist Wheel Drive electric wheels suitable for transporting heavy parts and equipment. The EW1A-150 wheels can effortlessly move a maximum transferable load of 1,000kg.

To help you imagine it, here’s what 1,000kg looks like in various industries:

-Automotive: between 3 and 7 petrol engines

-Food and packaging: between 5,000 and 6,000 average-sized apples

-Logistics: approx. 8,000 square meters of bubble wrap

-Construction: between 43 and 59 standard concrete blocks

-Manufacturing: almost 17 meters of rubber conveyor belt (if 1m wide, and 20mm thick)

Assist Wheel Drive is fully compliant with ISO 11228-2 (ergonomics – manual handling part 2 – pushing and pulling). The system makes a real difference in work environments where heavy loads need to be transported safely and reliably. 

Improved ergonomics reduce musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace

ISO 11228-2 is an international standard for ergonomics. It contains guidelines and requirements for preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Manual handling puts workers at repeated risk of MSDs. As the body’s musculoskeletal system includes the bones, joints and muscles, MSDs include:

-muscle sprains and strains

-back injuries

-bone and joint injuries

-nerve damage

-chronic pain conditions

Assist Wheel Drive is engineered to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace, by reducing manual efforts and repetitive strain. The potential positive impact of the system goes beyond individual employees’ health.

Lower risk of injury reduces the number of working days lost to sick leave. Overall, workplace productivity could rise by as much as 50%.

Workers stay safer when using carts with electric powered wheels to transport heavy loads

In many countries and industries, pushing and pulling are common causes of workplace injuries – especially back strain, sprains, and other MSDs.

Pulling and pushing heavy payloads can result in other accidents, such as trips, slips and falls. Workers are at risk of injuring their fingers and hands – for example, if their hand is trapped between the trolley and a surface. Trolleys in motion can bump into a worker’s legs or run over their foot.

A motorized trolley (with an electric wheel) that is easier to move and control can mitigate all of these risks.

The Assist Wheel Drive controller has forward and reverse controls, and a stop button. The trolley’s speed, braking, and other settings can be easily adjusted using the dedicated ez-Config PC software.

Humans can focus on pushing the payload, not their physical limits

In many countries and industries, pushing and pulling are common causes of workplace injuries – especially back strain, sprains, and other MSDs.

Workplace health and safety standards in different countries vary. They agree on one thing – setting a fixed weight limit for manual handling is difficult.

This is because the amount of weight that a person can safely lift, carry, push or pull depends on:

-their heights and weight

-their overall strength and frequency of their efforts

-their position, stance and posture

-the amount of friction on the floor

-how far away from the load they are

-how far the load needs to be transported, and how long it takes to move

As a result, workplace load limits are often based on the amount of force needed to set a load in motion and keep it moving. ISO 11228-2 also defines acceptable force limits for manually handling loads.

Electric power assistance via the wheels means less human force is needed to move a payload. Assist Wheel Drive helps workers by cutting the amount of physical effort required by as much as four fifths.

Improve workplace safety and employee well-being with Assist Wheel Drive

Incorporating motorized equipment into manual handling processes can enhance health and safety for workers and reduce work-related injuries.

The Assist Wheel Drive all-in-one system is compatible with the trolleys and carts that workers already use. The simple, integrated structure has universal compatibility and is simple to retrofit.

Quick and easy access to trolleys powered by electric wheels could transform manual handling processes in your workplace. Set things in motion by learning more about Assist Wheel Drive now.