Inkjet — elimination of risks arising from repetitive upper limb movements

The printer manufacturer company emphasizes the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Many tasks in manufacturing require repetitive movements. The company operates a surveillance system and has a team assessing ergonomic risks and developing solutions. At the printer head test workstation, the Ergonomics of Posture and Movement Research Unit carried out the slow-motion analysis of film, detailing the workstations deemed to be at risk. They calculated the OCRA index and the correlation with medical history data. Analysis showed that the operator had the shoulder bent and (for shorter operators) the trunk pushed forward. The abduction of the shoulder and, in some cases, the lateral inclination of the trunk also occurred. A raised-arm posture was maintained for over one third of the working cycle. Routine employee health surveillance revealed a moderate incidence of pain to the right shoulder among these operators. Data confirmed that the right shoulder was the only clinically involved part of the body. The aim was to redesign the workstation in order to eliminate the risk due to incorrect posture and repetitive movements of the upper limbs.