Preventing MSDs in the logistics sector: FM Logistic unveils the Ergoskel

12 November 2019 - Third-party logistics provider FM Logistic today unveiled the Ergoskel, an ergoskeleton designed to help warehouse workers lift parcels while reducing physical strain on their bodies. The Ergoskel has been developed and patented by FM Logistic and the University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC), France.

According to the French healthcare insurance authority (Assurance Maladie), 1 out of 3 workplace injuries and 3 out of 4 registered musculoskeletal disorders in France are related to manual handling in the workplace.

Manual handling in warehouses involves lifting, carrying, and putting down parcels and single products throughout the day. The activity can become a potential workplace hazard when an employee is required to handle loads repeatedly or because of unfavourable working postures.

Before drafting specifications for the project, FM Logistic and the UTC used motion capture to record the movements and postures of pickers (the employees who prepare orders in warehouses). Motion sensors and accelerometers were placed on more than 20 volunteer pickers to measure the impact on their bodies. The results were complemented by images from 18 synchronised cameras.

The Ergoskel is designed to facilitate the handling of parcels weighing up to 25 kg. It is worn like a backpack with adjustments for body size and weighs 2.8 kg. The vest-like device consists of a frame with elements on the upper body, lower back, and upper thighs, as well as cables with hand clutches. The lift-assistance mechanism starts when the picker places his or her hand under the parcel. It takes less than 90 seconds to put on and adjust the Ergoskel and 30 seconds to remove it.

85 percent of the testers said they were able to keep their freedom of movement. The first tests show that the Ergoskel reduces strain on the back and upper muscles by 70%.

"We believe that innovation is key to improving the health, safety, and working conditions of our warehouse employees - one third of which are pickers," said FM Logistic's managing director for France and Western Europe, Yannick Buisson. "The FM Logistic and UTC Ergoskel represents a milestone in our ambition to tackle the risks of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), as we hire and train about 700 people per year in France alone. I am grateful to our team members who have participated in the field experiments."

Following lab tests at the UTC, FM Logistic is trialling 10 Ergoskel devices at five of its warehouses in France, namely Crépy-en-Valois, Longueil-Sainte-Marie, Epaux-Bézu, Arras, and Fontenay-Trésigny. A sample of 25 employees of all ages has tested the device. The next step is to further improve the device before considering a wider deployment.

"As with any new technology, employee acceptance is key. The Ergoskel offers a handy and light device to prevent musculoskeletal disorders during manual handling. We hope more employees will shortly have the opportunity to experience its benefits," said PhD Khalil BEN MANSOUR, a biomechanical scientist at the Biomechanics and Bioengineering Laboratory of the University of Technology of Compiègne and the French National Centre for Scientific Research.

The Ergoskel is one of several ergonomic devices FM Logistic has introduced or tested into its operations. These include connected jackets for health monitoring by Mulliez-Flory & Altran and the VIZO, a biomechanical device that helps prevent neck pain.

FM Logistic operates 30 logistics platforms in France. In 2019, the company was awarded the ISO 45001 certification for health and safety at work for all its French sites, the first such certification for a logistics provider.

The Ergoskel made its first public appearance during a press conference in Paris on Tuesday, 12 November.

For pictures, please click:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2J8-5NFfIlBUllNbTFMWFdWSko1SnJrRWgwSC1rbHhWMXpF

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2J8-5NFfIlBWlI3bTFoT3V4dzVUT0EtX1Fxak56Y2tXM3pN

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ARNHjn4mDfzuetvr9VSsxmeC3KPuvUlW/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18lYJnLlxI1jJ75I8vc2fNJI0_0ssijod/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18sYPs7SuG9rSDZm6liDyp4Z-ckU7v3-F/view?usp=sharing

About FM Logistic
Founded in France in 1967, FM Logistic is a family-owned independent logistics company with revenue of €1.3 billion in the fiscal year to March 2019. It is active in 14 countries across Europe, Asia, and Latin America (Brazil) and employs more than 27,200 people.

FM Logistic invests in innovation to offer logistics, transport, and co-packing solutions that answer changing consumer demands, the rise of e-commerce, and omni-channel distribution. It serves a balanced portfolio of international and local companies in the FMCG, retail, perfume & cosmetics, industrial manufacturing, and healthcare industries.

You can follow FM Logistic on Twitter at @FMLogistic

Media contact:
FM Logistic
Cyrille Gibot
Phone: +33 6 99 41 05 72
cgibot@fmlogistic.com