Tag: Workplace Injury Prevention

Tips for Your Staff on Using Your Dumpster Safely

Dumpster Safety
Dumpster Safety

Whether you’re working a temporary construction project or you manage a large multi-family housing property, effective trash removal is a major part of the job. Avoid injury claims and work stoppages by making sure your employees are trained in these dumpster safety tips:

• People sometimes open dumpster gates as a shortcut for loading trash. If the gates do get opened, be sure they are securely closed immediately. Trash that spills out of the dumpster can be a safety risk and result in fines.

• Overfilling the dumpster is another sure way to end up with unsightly and dangerous spillage. Some states and municipalities prohibit trash pick-up if the waste extends beyond the top of the dumpster, which makes additional work for your employees.

• Eco-friendly trash removal involves more than toxic or radioactive materials. Ordinary household items such as paints, pesticides and batteries should never be placed in a dumpster. Take electronic waste like computers and televisions to the appropriate recycling facility.

• Distribute trash evenly throughout the dumpster so it stays level and balanced, especially when it’s being moved.

• Paper, cardboard and other lightweight materials can easily fly out of the dumpster. Keep these objects weighted down by heavier items, placing them all in bags if possible.

Practice Dumpster Safety with Electric Tuggers from DJ Products

Even if you carefully follow these dumpster safety tips, moving awkward and heavy dumpsters is a two-person job. Visit our website to learn how our battery-powered WasteCaddy lets a single employee maneuver dumpsters up to 5,000 pounds, even up inclines and across snow and ice.

Industrial Ergonomics – Adapt Your Workplace to Your Employees to Save Costs

Proper Ergonomics Keep Your Employees Healthy and Happy
Proper Ergonomics Keep Your Employees Healthy and Happy

Not so long ago, companies used standard “one size fits all” equipment that did not allow for personalization to employees. Today, ergonomics are used in most workplaces to identify injury risks and make appropriate adjustments.

Everyday Risk Factors in the Workplace

Muscle strain and fatigue are two common health issues arising from repetitive tasks in both offices and industrial settings. According to Richard Haas, a chiropractor in Mason City, IA, approximately 40 percent of work-related health problems involve neuromuscular skeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Integration of automation and technology is the primary reason for the increasingly repetitive nature of workplace activities. With many employees spending most of the day sitting at a desk, the resulting muscle stiffness and tension makes them more vulnerable to injury.

Creating Better Working Conditions with Ergonomics

Ergonomic equipment ranges from lumbar cushions for back support to dumpster movers or dumpster pushers that lighten heavy loads. Employees are also being trained in the proper body mechanics of sitting in a desk chair or lifting boxes.

Making the workplace more responsive to the physical needs of your employees generates a number of financial benefits:

• Production levels are higher due to more efficient working conditions and less time off from injuries.

• High costs of insurance, medical claims, time off and other expenses associated with injuries are reduced significantly.

• Positive employee morale creates greater job satisfaction, which in turn can prevent high turnover rates.

Let our battery-powered WasteCaddy dumpster movers from DJ Products provide an ergonomic solution for your employees’ well-being. Visit our website for a live chat with one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales engineers.

Ergonomics: A New Focus on Cutting Warehouse Staff Turnover

Prevent Warehouse Accidents
Prevent Warehouse Accidents

The warehouse industry typically has a high turnover rate due to the physical demands of these jobs. Employees can be injured while moving machinery or equipment around. They can also develop injuries that result from repetitive movements, such as soft tissue injuries.

The use of industrial tugs and similar products make warehouse work less physically demanding and could lead to a lower turnover rate.

The Importance of Ergonomics

One of the most effective ways to lower the risk of workplace injuries in warehouses and reduce turnover is by adopting ergonomics. This means making sure that employees are able to do their jobs as safely as possible with less physical strain.

Making changes that result in a more comfortable work environment offers other benefits as well that lead to lower turnover. Such improvements will help employees become more productive, since they do not tire as quickly. They can also boost morale among employees when they see that their employer is watching out for their well-being.

Ergonomic Changes

The exact types of ergonomic changes that should be made vary based on a number of factors, such as the types of equipment and machinery that are used, the size of the workforce and the warehouse’s layout. Taking these factors into consideration can help warehouse management determine effective ergonomic changes, such as reducing the weight of mobile workstations and carts, or using motorized or electrical industrial tugs.

At DJ Products, our industrial tugs make it safer for your warehouse employees to move heavy equipment around. Visit us online to see our full selection of cart pullers and other products.