Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary Study

Area of Science:

• Industrial Engineering
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Manual handling of large sheet metals poses significant occupational safety and health risks.
• Workers face challenges with efficiency, physical strain, and potential injuries from sharp edges during sheet metal handling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify problems associated with current sheet metal handling practices.
• To design and develop a novel trolley-lifter to mitigate identified risks and improve handling efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Utilized observation, interviews, and immersive simulations to analyze existing handling methods.
• Designed and fabricated a prototype sheet metal trolley-lifter.
• Conducted a pilot study comparing the new trolley-lifter with traditional handling techniques.

Main Results:

• The pilot study demonstrated improved cycle times and manpower utilization with the trolley-lifter.
• Observed enhancements in working postures, indicating reduced physical strain.
• The trolley-lifter proved effective in addressing issues related to manual sheet metal handling.

Conclusions:

• The developed trolley-lifter provides an effective and safe mechanized solution for handling sheet metals.
• It serves as a viable alternative to full automation, offering a simple yet effective assistive mechanism.
• The device contributes to improved occupational safety and health in industrial environments.