An analysis of scanning postures among grocery cashiers and its relationship to checkstand design

Mounting evidence suggests that musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent among US retail food workers. Cashiers who use electronic scanners appear to be at especially high risk for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Checkstand design has been implicated as a contributor to musculoskeletal injury among cashiers because workstation design can significantly impact working posture. The present study examines working posture among two groups of cashiers to determine if checkstand design is associated with substantial differences in posture and movement during scanning. The work activities of twenty grocery cashiers using one of two checkstand designs (front-facing and right-hand takeaway) were examined. Videotapes of cashiers performing scanning tasks were observed and associated postures and movements were visually coded. The right-hand takeaway design was associated with a significantly higher percentage of non-neutral trunk postures than the front-facing design. However, there were no significant differences in shoulder posture, grasp, or scanning motion associated with checkstand/scanner design. Factors that appeared to affect cashier work posture during scanning included stature, order size, and product type. Although improving the checkstand design may reduce the occurrence of certain awkward postures and static muscle loading conditions among cashiers, the success of these interventions is likely to be limited unless follow-up programmes are instituted to ensure that cashiers are able to use these designs effectively. Furthermore, fundamental changes in cashier work may be required to fully eliminate hazards for musculoskeletal disorders from this job.