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Exoskeletons to prevent the onset of musculoskeletal disorders

Lanzi Group inaugurates its collaboration with Ergosanté, a French international leader in the production of ergonomic exoskeletons adaptable to all body shapes and sizes.

Workers’ musculoskeletal problems can originate from a variety of causes.

Such problems are most commonly determined by psychological-social-organisational factors, but they can also be caused by ordinary physical/bio-mechanical factors such as:

  • repetitive movements
  • static work
  • uncomfortable joint positions
  • carrying heavy loads
  • vibration, etc.

Lanzi Group set out to further increase its PPE range by becoming an official retailer of the exoskeletons produced French company Ergosanté, an internationally renowned reality for the quality and scientific reliability of its exoskeletons.

Ergosanté’s exoskeletons are designed with the aim to prevent the onset/or the worsening of the musculoskeletal disorders that afflict many people engaging in tasks where physical effort and exertion are a constant.

But what specifically are musculoskeletal disorders?

An effective description can be found in the website of the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL); here is a short extract:

“Many people suffer from back pain, neck pain, pain in the arms. Most of these disorders, generically referred to as “musculoskeletal”, come from ageing, but they may often be caused by incorrect movements and/or postures adopted in both work and daily life activities.

The most common complaints are a sense of heaviness, discomfort, numbness, tingling, stiffness, pain in:

– the spine (neck and back)

– upper limbs (shoulders, arms and hands)

– lower limbs (legs and feet).

Such disorders are often due to muscle fatigue, inflammation of tendon structures or degeneration of spinal discs. Certain circulatory system disorders (e.g., swollen limbs, varicose veins, etc.) can also be caused by incorrect movements and/or a prolonged static posture”.

What is the impact of musculoskeletal disorders on work efficiency?

These disorders can have a significant impact on the quality of life and the efficiency and safety of workers.

For the workers, we are talking of a possible inability to properly perform their assigned tasks over time, with the ensuing risks of declining efficiency or even of losing their job.

To the companies, the cost can be very high in terms of increased health insurance charges, increased absenteeism, diminished production capacity and delays in planning, excessive staff turnover, negative impacts on their corporate image, etc.

This is why it is definitely in the interest of companies to protect the health and safety of their workers in the most strategically effective way, especially those workers whose duties require the movement of weights and loads.

Exoskeletons: the ideal ergonomic solution for workers

In recent years, we have witnessed a growing awareness that prevention is the best strategy at all times.

This is why, since 2013, Ergosanté has been coming to the aid of workers and companies by proposing different types of equipment, including the exoskeleton, that can ensure effective assistance to workers’ movements.

To fully understand how these devices can come to the aid of workers in their daily tasks, it is necessary to have a thorough grasp of their usefulness, their purposes and the conditions for using them in the best way possible, while also doing away with some misconceptions.

  1. Exoskeletons are designed with the aim of preventing the development of musculoskeletal disorders in workers. They do not turn workers into “superheroes” and do not generate an increase in their physical strength or in their speed of execution.
  2. Exoskeletons only provide physical assistance. The muscles continue to be used, but the user feels less tired by the end of the day.
  3. The use of an exoskeleton requires a very short period of training (settings, safety, etc.), and the workers need some time to adjust to its use, and therefore an exoskeleton cannot be used immediately.

A scientific and rigorous approach, field-tested by Ergosanté

Ergosanté has designed its exoskeletons and based their production on the latest technological advances in the sector. It has tested their impact on end-users.

The company engages in ongoing research and development to improve and raise the level of effectiveness of its exoskeletons, both in terms of efficiency and in terms of comfort and acceptance by the users.

In general, French-made exoskeletons are easy to put on and take off; in just a few minutes, a worker is ready to start a new workday protecting his or her long-term health and well-being.

Exoskeletons offer the possibility of extensively adjusting the various fasteners so as to achieve the best customised fit, adapting the exoskeleton as closely as possible to one’s body morphology.  

Examples:

  • Adjusting the chest strap for height (3 settings)
  • Adjusting the belt in the lumbar zone
  • Adjusting the back belt

To learn more on Ergosanté exoskeletons, or to request a demo, write to marketing@lanzigroup.com.


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