Ergonomic Cleaning & Material Handling: Why Tool Design Matters

Safety, efficiency and comfort are important factors when it comes to cleaning and material handling in industrial settings. Long hours performing specific and repetitive tasks have a physical and mental impact on employees. It’s critical to understand that tool design choice plays an important role in a workforce’s overall health and productivity. Investing in the right quality tools reduces injuries and increases productivity, offering long-term benefits to an organization.

Ergonomic tools are designed to fit our bodies and our movements to effectively reduce strain. These specialized tools allow workers to do their jobs in a way that is better for their bodies and offers an overall safer work environment. In this blog, we will take a look at the concept of ergonomic design and the importance of quality ergonomic tools, highlighting some of the best options from our Vikan family of products.

Why Ergonomic Tool Design Matters
Ergonomics is an applied design science focused on people and equipment/tools interacting efficiently and safely. It takes into account both the body’s capabilities and its limitations. When it comes to cleaning and material handling, ergonomic tool design plays an important role. It can reduce and/or prevent repetitive motion disorders (RMD) and repetitive strain injuries (RSI), including stress fractures (microscopic damage that causes tiny cracks in bone) and carpal tunnel syndrome (damage to muscles, tendons or nerves in fingers, thumbs and wrists).

Tools that are designed poorly can contribute not only to these repetitive use injuries, but also to back pain, joint discomfort and fatigue, resulting in low levels of morale and productivity.

Quality tools that are designed with ergonomics in mind are not just about physical comfort, but increasing efficiency in the work area, as well. These tools enable workers to do their jobs with less effort, move without extra strain and clean more thoroughly. When workers are comfortable and can do their tasks faster, they can maintain a higher level of focus and energy.


Vikan: Leading the Way in Ergonomic Design
Union Jack carries Vikan’s line of high quality and FDA-approved cleaning and material handling tools. Many incorporate ergonomic design, making cleaning and moving materials easier, more effective and safe.

Brushes

Brushes are a cleaning necessity and Vikan offers several ergonomically designed options, including the following:

Short Handled Stiff Scrub Brush

This short handled brush has a comfortable, ergonomic grip that allows for scrubbing for long periods of time without hand fatigue. The brush can be held by either the handle or the brush head to give better control, making for easy and effective daily cleaning. 

Round Scrub Brush

This ergonomic hand scrub brush features a round shape and raised grip. The design helps keep hands from touching surfaces and chemicals, while also allowing the exertion of more pressure to get a more effective scrubbing motion. 

Small Dish Brush with Scraper

The raised angle of the handle grip promotes quick and effective cleaning because the operator’s hand and arm are in an ergonomically correct position. This allows the head of the brush, with its angled bristles, to reach perfectly into corners.

Shovels

Arguably, a workhorse of any facility, Vikan’s ergonomic shovels are a top choice for moving large amounts of materials. The following three shovels are must-haves in any facility:

Vikan Wide Ergonomic Shovel with Large Blade and 51" Handle

This ergonomic shovel is stepped in two places to help to prevent back injuries and the long and large blade combination makes it suitable for shoveling large volumes. The ergonomic design reduces strain when lifting from floor level and the ergonomic grip offers comfort even with extended use.

Vikan Large Ergonomic Sieve Shovel

The ergonomic design of this sieve shovel and its D-grip handle reduces strain when bending and lifting. And, it makes sifting and draining applications less of a chore. The ergonomic grip design prevents accidents like slips and drops that might lead to an injury. Its ergonomic handle design also prevents hand fatigue.

Vikan Reinforced Ergo Shovel with Small Blade

The ergonomic design of this shovel makes it ideal for working at floor level and shoveling from container to container. The handle of the shovel has an inner aluminum tube that is stepped in two places to prevent back injuries and uncomfortable working positions. This shovel’s small blade and short handle are able to fit in small containers.

The Benefits of Using Ergonomic Tools in the Workplace
Quality, ergonomically designed tools, like those from Vikan, are beneficial to both workers and employers: 

> Risk reduction
Ergonomic tools prevent and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and repetitive stress injuries. Properly designed tools help eliminate discomfort that comes with repetitive tasks and awkward movements. 

> Increased efficiency and productivity
With the help of ergonomically designed tools, workers can perform tasks efficiently and do more tasks in the same amount of time with higher productivity and less discomfort. 

> Boost employee morale
Morale and job satisfaction improve when employee health and well-being are valued by employers. A happy workplace and a healthy workforce can result in fewer absences due to accidents, injuries or strain. 

> Long-term cost savings
Investing in ergonomically designed tools is an investment in prevention and reduction of workplace accidents, injuries and of lost productivity.

The Bottom Line
Ergonomics plays an important role in creating a comfortable, productive and safe work environment. By providing tools that are ergonomically designed with the user’s comfort and efficiency in mind, businesses can create a more positive, healthier, more efficient workplace. Vikan’s tools provide comfort, durability, and functionality – they are excellent examples of ergonomic tools with long-term benefits. It’s time to switch to ergonomic tools and see the difference!