The Ergonomics Involved in Designing Conveyor Belt Systems

Conveyor belts are used in industry to automate the transport of goods and materials between stages of a process. It eliminates the risks of musculoskeletal injury related to manual materials handling since it greatly reduces the need for repetitive lifting and carrying.

Despite the benefits of a conveyor belt workstations, they can contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) if not designed properly with the end users in mind. Workers in unideal conditions to which awkward and uncomfortable postures are common for long periods are at a high risk of MSDs. Therefore actions such as reaching, stooping, twisting, and leaning are all problematic and need to be reduced.

The design of conveyor systems can encourage these poor postures if the belt is positioned too low or too high for the operators. Also, if the conveyor is too wide, the operator must reach far away from the body to handle objects on the belt. By not allowing for adequate clearance for the feet at floor level, the operator is required to lean forward. Having features such as sills and skirts can be another factor, obstructing the operator’s access to items on the belt.

Organizational issues can also be a factor in the development of MSDs. These include: the pace of work, rest and recovery time, and the duty cycle, and psychosocial factors are all important factors to consider when assessing the risk of MSDs in a conveyor related work task.

Reference points on the body are frequently used in place of absolute measurements when considering work surface height as an individual’s stature and body measurements will determine the ideal work surface height for that person.