Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD's) with the correct Equipment

There are a wide range of risk factors causing MSDs in many types of work, especially in a job that inherently involves moving heavy loads, or doing repetitive tasks, which we find all the time in grounds maintenance and landscaping.  HSE highlight a range of risk factors to do with the work on their website, like:

1. lifting heavy or bulky loads
2. pushing, pulling or dragging heavy loads
3. bending, crouching or stooping
4. stretching, twisting and reaching
5. sustained or excessive force
6. repetitive tasks, particularly using the same hand or arm action
7. carrying out a task for a long time
8. working with hand-held power tools for a long time
9. driving heavy vehicles, long-distance driving or driving over rough ground

Or the risk factors can be to do with the work environment or organisation:

1. poor working environment (including lack of space, temperature and lighting)
2. poor work organisation (including workload, job demands and work breaks or lack of them)

Or they can be to do with individual workers:

1. a recent or existing injury may make you more vulnerable
2. individual differences (some workers are more affected by certain risks)
3. working beyond your capacity
4. working when physically tired

Your employer can and should attempt to mitigate against MSD's, especially where there is a heightened risk.

Your employer may need to make adaptations, for example to the:

1. tools and equipment you use
2. ways you work, such as rest breaks and the pace of the work
3. work environment, such as the temperature or lighting

Kersten provide a range of equipment that is specifically designed to prevent Musculoskeletal disorders, or to help reduce symptoms.

For example, our wheelbarrows from Matador have been specifically designed with this in mind.  

Take the TORO barrow for example;

https://kerstenuk.com/wheelbarrow-series/toro-three-wheel-parks-wheelbarrow-90-litres-5a1gy

This barrow has been designed to remove heavy lifting from most of it's applications and to navigate kerb edges without having to bounce the barrow up and over the obstacle.  This massively reduces the effort required to use the barrow, especially if moving material across large distances.  People with arthritis and mobility issues will also find it easier to use than a typical barrow.  

Some of our barrows even come with electric drive;

This is extremely helpful if you are moving over loose ground, up and down hills or ramps.  It also greatly reduces the effort required to push a wheelbarrow in normal conditions too.

Other products are designed to take the manual graft out of jobs such as weeding, like the Eco Weedkiller garden;

https://kerstenuk.com/hot-water-weeders/pedestrian-hot-water-weeders/ewk-garden-3-kw-orgaf

The weeding lance prevents repetitive stooping and crouching to remove weeds by hand, instead using a hot water lance to kill weeds whilst allowing the operator to retain an upright posture.

There are many other examples of products we offer to reduce Musculoskeletal disorders.  

If you have a specific problem you are trying to solve, then give us a call.