Reference no: EM133083178

Case Study: Alternative Equipment to Reduce Forces

Case Study: Alternative Equipment to Reduce Forces

Task: Six housekeepers of a three-star hotel were required to mop extensive areas of the floor. The mopping task involved filling the bucket with water, wetting the mop in the bucket, squeezing the excess water, mopping the floor, rinsing and squeezing the mop, and emptying and refilling the bucket. There ae a number of different styles of mops and buckets available on the market for this operation. Some require the cleaner to squeeze the mop manually, while other mopping systems include a pull along bucket with a wringer and handle which the cleaner presses down on to the squeeze the mop.

Task Problem: The Housekeeper used a Kentucky mop (a mop with long mop head) together with a bucket that has a wringer system but without wheels. The housekeepers felt that a big amount of force is needed to squeeze the mop; the mop had to be rinsed and squeezed frequently during the mopping task. Measurements of these forces in the laboratory showed that in order to squeeze the mop, the housekeepers had to put as much force as possible into squeezing. All housekeepers reported pain and discomfort in their wrists and backs.

What can you do to assess the risk or finding the solution:

Result: