Industry: Containerboard Packaging - NAICS Code: 32221

Task: Moving Paper Rolls

Employees: 140 (number at the site)

Success Brief:

The company eliminated manual pushing and rolling of large paper rolls by purchasing battery-powered roll pushers.

The Problem:

Employees used high force to manually push rolls of paper weighing approximately 3,000 lbs into place at the bulk roll handling area. Rolls are pushed over the uneven concrete floors, and over the roll stand tracks at the corrugator. These types of forceful exertion create a potential for injury to the wrists, shoulders, back and knees.

The Solution:

Battery-powered roll pushers were purchased (approximate cost - $5,000 each) and stationed at each of the corrugator single facers. Care was taken to select the units appropriate for the roll weights. A standard operating procedure was developed, and employees were trained to use the roll pushers whenever rolls need to be moved or staged.

Figure 1: Before: manually moving roll

Figure 2: After: using battery-powered roll pusher to move roll

The Impact:

Using the battery-powered roll pushers significantly improved the posture for employees moving rolls, and has virtually eliminated exposure to pushing forces.

Source:

• AF&PA; PPSA (May 2008)