The importance of small details in ergonomic risk: Influence of casters’ characteristics on the force exerted in pulling and pushing tasks

Abstract

The importance of ergonomics in the workplace of organizations resulting from changes in the scenario of production of goods and services in recent decades has brought great challenges for them, in reconciling productivity and workers’ well-being. This article is the result of research carried out in a company that produces metallic parts for automobiles. This research included an ergonomic study of manual handling and movements of loads through containers inserted in rolling bases. The study showed that the casters’ characteristics of the rolling bases had an impact on the strength used to pull or push the loads. It is also intended to show with this article that in a Lean environment, even what seems to be a small detail, its analysis can be important if it contributes to the reduction of human effort.