Prevention of occupational risks has become a fundamental and strategic element for companies whose main aim is to ensure the health of their employees and at the same time avoid incidents that affect their production chains. In this context, there has been an explosion in the use of exoskeletons in recent years to reduce muscle problems in high physical load jobs. Correspondingly, companies were also needed to identify which jobs were most likely to use such devices and which would be best suited given the tasks of each specific job. And this is exactly where a project developed by the Valencian Biomechanics Institute (IBV) in collaboration with companies from the province of Alicante. Courage and Famous ChocolatesIt aims to promote the use of exoskeletons in the industrial sector to create healthier and therefore more productive working environments.
The project, called Innowork, is funded by and through the Valencia Institute for Business Competitiveness (Ivace). It is aimed to take another step in research in the field of contracture prevention and musculoskeletal disorders. generally through the creation of new tools that help companies incorporate these devices.
In this sense, the Institute of Biomechanics is developing. a guideline that allows companies to identify which jobs can improve their conditions with the introduction of the most suitable exoskeleton models in each case. This guide will have a protocol to accompany companies in the selection and implementation process as well as the subsequent verification of the device itself.
But the matter does not end there, because once the exoskeleton is integrated and from a preventive point of view, techniques are required to analyze its effect. Therefore, the institute itself is working on it. development of a biomechanical model that allows company technicians to know about muscle unloading involving the use of such devices in a particular task.
And that’s because, according to Mercedes Sanchis, director of Occupational Health and Welfare at IBV, classical assessment methodologies “do not allow to measure the extent to which the level of ergonomic risk from physical exertion is reduced when the worker uses an exoskeleton.” “However, through biomechanical models we can “predict the extent to which muscle activity or joint load is reduced,” he adds. To achieve these goals, Laboratory-level tests with exoskeletons are planned. To validate the developed model.
monitoring techniques
On the other hand, he is working on the creation of updated procedures for the project. assessing the ergonomic risk of a job. To do this, monitoring techniques will be used through sensors or cameras that record certain information for subsequent evaluation. Protocols are also designed so that companies can interpret these records and effectively prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
“As this type of irregularity remains the main cause of sick leave, the safety and health of workers must be a priority for all companies,” says Sanchis.
On the other hand, given that “every job benefits from real-time monitoring tools,” according to an IBV spokesperson, these investigations will also help companies tailor jobs to the characteristics of the people who will occupy them. It will help to include the necessary changes to make the ergonomic risk to workers tolerable.».
In this initiative, The Institute as a whole has the participation of companies from different sectors of the Valencian Community.. This is the case of SPB dedicated to cleaning itself; Panamar, pastries; Zummo Innovaciones Mecanicas, manufacturer of juice vending machines; Colevisa, restaurant and catering; Traditional meals, prepared foods; sausages from the meat sector F. Martínez; Grefusa for snacks and nuts; Becsa, from construction; and Tetma, waste management.
In the case of Alicante province, the chosen ones were the toy company Famosa and Chocolates Valor. They explain from the company La Vila Joiosa that they decided to join the project to find out whether the use of exoskeletons really helps the occupational health of their workers, especially load carriers. In this sense, we believe that the safety of people working for Chocolates Valor has the highest priority and The main aim is to work to prevent all kinds of accidents and to improve working conditions.eliminate risks and prevent injuries.
In the case of Famosa, headquartered in the Las Atalayas industrial area in Alicante, the goal is the same, given that the company has continuous cargo handling and already has a large automated logistics centre.