Credit: VicenSanh/Adobe stock
Back-assist exosuits reduced back injuries for warehouse employees by 62%, according to a new study from HeroWear.
The study analyzed work across five distribution centers for 281,000 hours. When the exosuits were in use, one injury occurred every 50,000 work hours, compared to one every 20,000 hours when the suits weren't used.
Based on historical data, there should have been 10.5 back injuries in 281,000 hours of work. But when the exosuits were worn, there were zero back injuries among case-picking workers, and injuries weren't shifted to other body parts.
Workers in the study reported a 25% decrease in work-related bodily discomfort and a 20% reduction in work-related fatigue.
"Our main goal at Plymouth is to make sure we are supporting every worker to have a happy healthy life outside of work," said Travis Erickson, director of operations for Plymouth Inc., a study participant, in a statement. "Some of our workers who have had back issues started wearing the Apex 2 exosuit and don't have back issues any longer."
According to Teamsters data, lower back injuries account for 25% of all workplace industries and 33% of workplace compensation costs. Back injuries cost warehouses roughly $14 billion each year, and each back injury costs an average of $67,000, according to OSHA.
Exosuits reduce spine compression forces for users and can take 20% to 40% of the load off of a user's back muscles.
Photo credit: VicenSanh/Adobe Stock
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