Logistics Work, Ergonomics and Social Sustainability: Empirical Musculoskeletal System Strain Assessment in Retail Intralogistics

Dominic Loske, Matthias Klumpp, Maria Keil and Thomas Neukirchen
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Dominic Loske: Chair of Production and Logistics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Matthias Klumpp: Chair of Production and Logistics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Maria Keil: Chair of Production and Logistics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Thomas Neukirchen: FOM University of Applied Sciences, 45141 Essen, Germany

Logistics, 2021, vol. 5, issue 4, 1-25

Abstract: Background: A large proportion of logistics jobs still rely on manual labor and therefore place a physical strain on employees. This includes the handling of heavy goods and physiologically unfavorable postures. Such issues pose a risk for employee health and work capability. This article provides a detailed empirical analysis and a decision process structure for the allocation of ergonomic measures in warehousing and intralogistics processes. Methods: The methodological basis is a load assessment of the musculoskeletal system in retail intralogistics. Based on the established measurements systems CUELA and OWAS, the specific loads on employees are assessed for four typical logistics workplace settings. These are combined with standards for efficient decision rules regarding contracting and developing ergonomic improvements. Results: The results suggest an increased risk of long-term low back injury for the selected four standard work situations in warehousing and likely apply to similar work environments in logistics. Using measures, posture descriptions, and international standards, we show how already few threshold values serve as sufficient conditions to decide if ergonomic interventions are required. Conclusions: The specific contribution is characterized by the combination of literature review results, empirical results, and the identification and discussion of specific mitigation measures. These elements are focused on the highly relevant ergonomic situation of logistics workers and present a unique contribution towards the knowledge base in this field due to the multi-perspective approach.

Keywords: retail logistics; warehousing; ergonomics; health management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L8 L80 L81 L86 L87 L9 L90 L91 L92 L93 L98 L99 M1 M10 M11 M16 M19 R4 R40 R41 R49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:5:y:2021:i:4:p:89-:d:698409

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