An investment for the benefit of workers

With Ilaria Melandri, Head of the Prevention and Protection Service of Formu-

these benefits in terms of experimentation? With what results?

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Servizi,

we especially delve into the analysis of the findings of the studies conducted on the use of exoskeletons, which have returned important findings on the decrease of fatigue and accidents and prevention of occupational diseases.

First, how many exoskeletons did you employ?

"Initially, four exoskeletons were purchased for the trial. The more time passed, the more the workers asked to use them, so much so that to date all members of the work team have their own exoskeletons. The trial put the focus on the workers, who grasped the interest in their health and safety and put maximum effort into the project." How have you tested and measured

"The exoskeletons were tested by our staff in different production areas, particularly in the cleaning, logistics, and electrical maintenance sectors. Individual activities involving heavy use of the upper limbs at shoulder height were identified. In the first phase of testing, engineers from the IUVO company applied electrodes to the muscles involved in the work activity and measured muscle engagement without and with the use of the exoskeleton. The initial data provided encouraging results, and we moved on to the second phase of testing, using the exoskeleton in specific activities for at least ten hours per week. The study, which was approved in advance by the Bioethics Committee, involved constant surveillance by the Company Doctor, with quarterly visits and ultrasound scans to the joints involved. Muscle exertion measurements were repeated, and the data showed that the use of the exoskeleton leads to an average 30% reduction in physical exertion. The same questionnaires submitted to the staff involved in the trial showed great satisfaction with the use of the exoskeleton in maintaining correct posture and reducing physical exertion, as ascertained with the scientific data.

What aspects were most appreciated by the operators?

"The greatest users are the operators of the window cleaning and extra cleaning team: in fact, these are the situations in which the use of the exoskeleton offers the greatest advantages: for particularly high ceiling cobweb removal operations or for window cleaning to be carried out with telescopic poles, and in any case in all activities that require the use of equipment with important engagement of the upper limbs."

What are the major benefits resulting from the use of exoskeletons?

"Undoubtedly the lightening of physical exertion, thus less fatigue at the end of the work. Less fatigue also allows for better control of muscle movement and greater alertness, thus also reducing the likelihood of injury occurrence."

What are the main peculiarities, in terms of employee’s safety fallout, experienced at the site?

"Cleaning in Cia-Conad's new executive building in Forli has given us great satisfaction. The environment, a brand new design, has entire corridors and window walls. The architectural solutions adopted create many difficulties in window cleaning, both in terms of reachability and of number and size. Carrying out this activity without the use of exoskeletons would have required the use of very high ladders and scaffolds, with the consequent risk of falling during the cleaning operations. The installation of the scaffolds would have extended the time required to complete the job and the work would have been more tiring. The use of the exoskeleton made it possible to use particularly long poles and maintain good precision in movement, reducing risks and fatigue for workers."