Selecting the right work positioning equipment for your business ensures that your operations run smoothly and your workforce is protected from potential hazards. At Ergotronix, we believe there is always room for improvement when it comes to workplace safety and operational efficiency.
According to the National Safety Council, overexertion and bodily reaction account for 23% of all workplace accidents. One of the industries most affected is warehousing, with the most frequent injuries are trauma to the back and spine.
To combat this alarming statistic we gathered some key information needed to make informed decisions about work positioning equipment. We aim to help you maximize both safety, efficiency and morale in your industrial environment using work positioning devices.
Work positioning equipment includes a variety of devices designed to securely hold and manipulate workpieces or materials at optimal positions for user access. These devices range from simple manual holders to sophisticated automated systems that can adjust to various heights and angles. The primary goal is to facilitate easier, safer, and more efficient operations by reducing the need for manual handling and positioning of heavy or awkward items.
This equipment is used across numerous industries, including manufacturing, automotive, and construction. By stabilizing or moving objects into a suitable position, these tools help workers perform tasks more effectively without excessive strain or movement. Correctly implementing work positioning equipment can lead to significant productivity improvements and reduced workplace injuries, making them an essential component of modern industrial operations.
To correctly assess your workplace’s needs for work positioning equipment, begin by analyzing the tasks that are most physically demanding or pose ergonomic challenges. Look at the frequency and duration of these tasks to determine their impact on workers and productivity. Consider the variety of objects or materials handled and the typical workflow to understand where improvements can be made.
Next, engage with the workers who perform these tasks to gather insights into their challenges and the solutions they might find helpful. This direct feedback is invaluable for identifying specific needs that may not be immediately obvious. Combining this information with data on workplace injuries and efficiency metrics will help paint a comprehensive picture of where to focus your improvements.
When selecting work positioning equipment, several key features should be considered to ensure you get the most suitable product. Some of the most important features that you need to consider include:
Ensure the equipment can handle the maximum weight and size of the materials used in your operations. Selecting equipment that can manage the demands without risking structural integrity is important. Overloading equipment can lead to failures and safety hazards, compromising the entire operation.
Look for equipment that offers flexible settings to accommodate various tasks and worker preferences. Adjustable features such as height, angle, and rotation should be easy to modify to suit different jobs and user requirements. This versatility enhances both usability and functionality in diverse industrial settings.
Equipment should be intuitive for all users, regardless of their technical skills. Simple controls and clear instructions help reduce training time and minimize operational errors. Ensuring that the equipment is user-friendly can significantly boost productivity and safety.
Choose designs that promote comfortable and natural body positions to prevent strain and injuries. Ergonomically optimized equipment helps to maintain worker health and enhances efficiency by minimizing fatigue. Proper ergonomic design is crucial for long-term sustainability and worker satisfaction.
Prioritize equipment with built-in safety features like emergency stops, lock-in-place mechanisms, and stable bases to prevent accidents. These features are essential for maintaining a safe working environment, especially in settings where heavy or delicate operations occur. Ensuring robust safety measures are in place protects both the workforce and the machinery.
Ergonomics plays a pivotal role in selecting work positioning equipment because it directly affects worker comfort and health. Ergonomically designed equipment can significantly reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, which are common in environments where repetitive or strenuous tasks are performed.
Proper ergonomic equipment aligns with the body’s natural movements and adjusts to meet the individual needs of each worker. This customization helps maintain higher levels of productivity and satisfaction among workers. Implementing ergonomic solutions is not just about health; it’s a business strategy that can lead to lower healthcare costs and reduced absenteeism.
Safety is paramount when integrating any new equipment into your workplace. Work positioning devices should be rigorously tested to meet industry safety standards. It’s crucial to consider the operational environment and ensure that the equipment can perform safely under specific conditions, such as extreme temperatures or in the presence of hazardous materials.
Regular training sessions should be conducted to familiarize workers with the new equipment and update them on any changes in operation procedures. Safety audits and inspections should be scheduled regularly to ensure the equipment remains in good working condition and continues to meet safety standards. Our team can help you create a safe and reliable workplace.
Incorporating work positioning equipment can lead to significant productivity gains by reducing the time and effort workers spend on positioning tasks. Efficient positioning speeds up workflows and minimizes the downtime associated with manual setup and adjustments. Furthermore, when workers are less fatigued and the tasks less physically demanding, the quality of work generally improves.
Proper equipment can also help streamline the movement of materials through different stages of production. By reducing bottlenecks and simplifying processes, work positioning devices ensure that projects are completed faster and with fewer errors, directly impacting the bottom line.
When it comes to choosing between custom solutions and off-the-shelf options, several factors need to be considered. A few key examples include:
Feature Custom Solutions Off-The-Shelf Options Adaptability Tailored To Specific Needs General Use Cost Higher Initial Investment More Cost-Effective in the Long Run Implementation Time Longer Lead Times Are Needed Much Faster To Deploy Support Needs Specific Maintenance Plans Works With Standard Support Innovation Uses the Latest Technology Uses Standard Technology Scalability Can Be Scaled To Meet Your Needs Has Limited Scalability Return on Investment Much Higher Long-Term Benefits Much Faster ReturnsAn expert in work positioning equipment can provide invaluable assistance in selecting the right products for your specific needs. They can analyze your current operations, identify areas for improvement, and recommend solutions that align with your business objectives.
Experts also offer insights into the latest advancements in technology and ergonomics, ensuring that your investment is future-proof. Their experience can help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure that the equipment you choose offers the best possible return on investment. Consulting with a specialist can also provide peace of mind that all safety and efficiency aspects have been thoroughly considered.
Patient positioning is vital to a safe and effective surgical procedure. STERIS surgical table accessories and support systems provide complete flexibility and versatility for patient positioning with excellent radiolucency and higher patient weight capacities. Proper patient positioning in the operating room depends on the type and length of procedure, anesthesia access to the patient, devices required and other factors. Safely positioning the patient is a team effort. All members of the surgical team play a significant role in the process and share responsibility for establishing and maintaining the correct medical positions for patients.1,2
The goals of proper patient positioning include:
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Following standard patient positioning guidelines and practices helps to ensure patient safety and physical well-being before, during and after a procedure. A sufficient number of personnel should always be available during a patient procedure to position the patient safely and effectively. General positioning practices include having an adequate number of personnel, devices, and equipment available during a procedure to ensure patient and staff safety. The patient should be maintained in a neutral alignment, without extreme lateral rotation or hyperextension.
Ensure that pressure is not concentrated on one point in order to avoid pressure injuries. Pressure ulcers, localized injuries to skin or underlying tissue, can occur because of pressure or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction. A sedated or anesthetized patient is not always able to communicate physical feeling such as numbness, tingling, tissue temperature, and other issues.2
Various factors play a role in risk during a patient procedure as a result of positioning. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors can interact to contribute to the risk of developing pressure sores. Extrinsic factors may include pressure intensity and duration and overall effects of anesthesia. Intrinsic factors can include the overall health of the patient, and preexisting conditions such as respiratory or circulatory disorders, diabetes mellitus, anemia, malnutrition, advanced age, and body size.3 Additionally, the musculoskeletal system of the patient may be subjected to stress during patient positioning. When anesthetics and muscle relaxants depress pain, pressure receptors and muscle tone, the normal defense mechanisms cannot guard against joint damage or muscle stretch and strain. One of the main goals of proper patient positioning is to keep the patient's body as naturally aligned as possible while providing the surgical staff access to the surgical site, and quick, jerky movements should be avoided.3
Of the common patient positions, there are variations of different patient positions which play a key role in minimizing the risk of positioning related issues, such as: respiratory problems, circulatory problems, nerve or muscle injuries, and soft tissue injuries.
In High Fowler's position, the patient is usually seated (Fowler's position) at the head end of the operating table. The upper half of the patient's body is between 60 degrees and 90 degrees in relation to the lower half of their body. The legs of the patient may be straight or bent.
Jackknife position, also known as Kraske, is similar to Knee-Chest or Kneeling positions and is often used for colorectal surgeries. This type of position places extreme pressure on the knees. While positioning, surgical staff should place extra padding for the knee area.
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The kidney position resembles lateral position, except the patient's abdomen is placed over a lift in the operating table that bends the body to allow access to the retroperitoneal space. A kidney rest is placed under the patient at the location of the lift.
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The different positioning of patients to be used also depends on the type of procedure, with the purpose to both provide optimal exposure and access to the surgical site and maintain patient comfort, among several other reasons.
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The most common position used for cardiovascular procedures is the supine position. This type of position allows the best possible surgical access to the chest cavity. For coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the anterior thorax is exposed with the patient in a supine position. A roll is placed in the interscapular region to improve access to the sternum by extending the neck and elevating the sternal notch.
The supine position is used for Femoropopliteal (Fem/Pop) bypass surgery. Fem-pop is used to bypass narrowed or blocked arteries above or below the knee. The bypass restores blood flow to the leg. Typically, surgical table accessories such as the FEM POP Board will attach to the surgical table to increase lower body, intraoperative, fluoroscopic imaging coverage during the procedure.
Variations of the lithotomy position are most commonly used in cystoscopy, urology or gynecology procedures. Surgical table accessories such as stirrups, split-leg positioners and well leg-holders are commonly used to support patient legs during procedures.
The supine position with an additional headrest accessory, is most used for ophthalmic/ENT procedures. When the procedure is performed using a STERIS Surgical Table, a specialized adaptor accommodates standard Neuro and Eye-ENT-Neuro accessory attachments with cylindrical post attachments that are midline to the table.
The lithotomy position in reverse Trendelenburg is most commonly used for bariatric/split leg procedures. Split Leg Positioners provide mid-line access to the patient with independent controls for full abduction/adduction as well as high and low lithotomy positioning.
A variation of lateral position with kidney elevation (flexion) is most commonly used for kidney and thoracic procedures. Lateral positioners, arm boards, headrests and restraint straps are used to safely position the patient for this procedure.
A variety of positions may be used for orthopedic procedures depending on the specific type of procedure. Common positions include supine with additional attachments for traction of lower extremities. Such procedures include hip arthroscopies and anterior hip replacements. Other common orthopedic procedures utilize Fowler's position (beach chair) for shoulder arthroscopy procedures.
Fowler's position is commonly used for shoulder arthroscopy procedures. Surgical tables may be articulated to place patients in a seated position or shoulder chair (beach chair) accessories may be used as an alternative. The patient is placed supine on the operating table and general endotracheal anesthesia is induced. The endotracheal tube should be taped to the contralateral side of the mouth to assure easy airway access during the procedure if needed. After induction, protective foam face masks and/or head restraints are used for ocular protection during the procedure. The patient is moved into the upright beach chair position in conjunction with the anesthesia staff to ensure that the patient does not become hypotensive during this positioning maneuver.
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References
1 Phillips, N. F. (). Berry & Kohn's operating room technique (10th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby; St-Arnaud, D., & Paquin, M. (). Safe Positioning for Neurosurgical Patients. AORN Journal, 87 (6), -. doi:10./j.aorn..03.004
2 Guideline for positioning the patient. (). AORN Journal, 105 (4), P8-P10. doi:10./s-(17)-53 Rothrock, J. C. (). Alexander's care of the patient in surgery (14th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
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4 Patient positioning during anesthesia: Supine position. (, December 20). Retrieved from http://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/anesthesiology/patient-positioning-during-anesthesia-supine-position/article/