Reduction of lifting through smart design - The Netherlands

The issue under discussion

The City of Delft employs about 40 road workers and service employees in its maintenance department. Workers were known to be exposed to high levels of physical stress, with back and knee complaints particularly prevalent.

Action taken

The physical stresses were analysed by a physiotherapist using visual aids to document the problem. A working group was set up comprising affected workers and supervisors and given training on physical stress. The group was able to use the visual aids in its search for solutions.

A plan of attack was prepared on three levels:

• ergonomics - tools were provided to prevent physical stress such as custom-fitted kerb grippers;
• the content and organisation of tasks - the logistics of the work were examined, particularly during the project preparation phase, to prevent the need to handle materials over long distances;
• behaviour and working techniques - workers were trained in techniques by the company physiotherapist; working agreements were formulated with the employees and documented in the form of a “working techniques protocol”.

There was also an agreement made with planners and engineering enterprises over the use of materials to ensure that heavy materials were used only when absolutely necessary. For example, where cars do not cross paved areas, smaller, 4.5cm paving tiles are now used instead of heavier tiles. Such changes are being incorporated into a new public spaces manual that sets out standard models for the design of the city's infrastructure.

Results achieved

The City of Delft has more than earned back its investment, thanks to a reduction of 3.9% in absence due to illness. A survey on physical stress carried out before and after the measures were introduced revealed a drop in exposure to physical stress. More importantly, the status and motivation of the workers were enhanced because they felt a sense of “ownership” over the measures.