5 Actions to Alleviate Warehouse Drudgery

How can we minimise awkward postures, facilitate handling, and mitigate risks to alleviate arduous work in the warehouse? Are these measures compatible with performance objectives? Here’s a five-point strategy.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for 95% of recognised occupational illnesses within the logistics sector, primarily arising from repetitive movements performed in poor postures, alongside the lifting of heavy loads.

To mitigate these issues, a comprehensive redesign of the workspace is essential. Exotec collaborates with independent ergonomists to create workstations that are height-adjustable, equipped with tools tailored to optimise movement and posture. Every aspect of the order preparation workstations is meticulously considered, prioritising the well-being of all operators.

To avoid covering up to 15 kilometres daily within the warehouse and the associated challenges of heavy lifting, it is advisable to automate the picking process with a system that includes:

• A high-density storage area reaching up to 12 metres in height.
• Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) dedicated to picking, capable of transporting up to 30 kilograms of products in bins.

From a Goods-to-Person perspective, these bins are delivered directly to the operator, who prepares and validates the order. This system can be further enhanced with:

• Ergonomic order-picking stations.
• Modular automatic conveyors linked to an API, facilitating the efficient routing of orders across different areas of the warehouse.

The outcome is a marked reduction in drudgery and an increase in operational performance.

The legal noise threshold for an eight-hour workday is set at 85 decibels. When this limit is exceeded, operators are required to wear hearing protection to safeguard against potential hearing loss in a noisy environment.

To alleviate the distress caused by noise pollution, measures can also be implemented at the source by designing quieter working environments. At Exotec, we maintain a noise limit of 80 decibels as part of our specifications for logistics warehouse automation systems.

Fire hazards, electrical or mechanical shocks, and radiation are among the risks that can compromise warehouse safety and must be addressed through a robust maintenance policy. To ensure your automated warehouse operates at peak efficiency, Exotec has developed a hybrid maintenance system: 90% of malfunctions can be resolved remotely, while technicians are dispatched on-site for the remaining issues.

What distinguishes Exotec’s maintenance approach is the rigorous training our technicians undergo in safety protocols for reporting risks and hazardous situations. They are the only personnel authorised to intervene in the automated zone after the system has been shut down. Furthermore, our remote maintenance service is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

As the term suggests, a supply chain is comprised of numerous interconnected links. Each day, various service providers must be engaged; transforming them into partners allows for the establishment of robust logistics warehouse security policies that ensure the safety and well-being of everyone within the supply chain.

Exotec’s technologies are developed with a security-centric approach, ensuring that the pursuit of performance never compromises the safety and working conditions of operators. Moreover, our systems are designed as genuine solutions to the challenging conditions faced by warehouse workers, reinforcing the notion that safety is built on a cohesive network.

To learn more about our approach, please visit our dedicated page on warehouse security.