MODERNISATION OF A CERAMICS FACTORY TO PREVENT MANUAL LIFTING

Tile packages from the tile-sorting line needed to be hoisted by a manual hydraulic mechanism. A risk assessment in 1998 revealed that a sorting assembly line operator needed to bend down nearly 1,700 times during a shift. Sometimes, packages weighing from 15-30kg would need to be lifted manually. Workers were exposed to the risk of back trauma and it was estimated that high physical loads led to frequent illness and staff turnover of up to 50%.