Do You Need Ergonomic Casters? Here are the Features to Look For

Do You Need Ergonomic Casters? Here are the
Features to Look For
Regardless of your industry, there’s a good chance that your goals include keeping your employees safe and happy, all
while improving productivity and your bottom line. If this sounds familiar, then ergonomic caster wheels are most likely
the best bet. Learning more about the features that make a caster wheel ergonomic can help you make better decisions,
too.
Wheel Width & Diameter
Ergonomic casters are specifically designed to make the movement of a load simpler and more efficient. As a result, the
wheel width and diameter are an important consideration when it comes to a truly ergonomic caster. Generally
speaking, ergonomic casters have thinner wheel widths to reduce friction on the floor and wider wheel diameters to
make pushing and pulling simpler. These simple designs can significantly reduce exertion, and in turn, they can reduce
the risk of injury.
Swivel Sections & Leads
Turning and maneuvering loads even further increases the risk of overexertion injury for your employees, so when
shopping for the best possible ergonomic casters for your needs, it’s important to look at the swivel sections and leads,
as well. A swivel that is ergonomically designed makes turns far less difficult to maneuver, and it also makes it easier for
an operator to start a load moving when the wheels are not all facing the same direction. The swivel lead, on the other
hand, should be longer in order to further improve ease of movement, particularly when starting from a position where
the wheels are not all parallel.
Bearings
Bearings come in numerous different types, so it’s important to make the right choices to suit your needs. In order for a
caster to be considered truly ergonomic, the wheel bearings should make it easier to start the load moving and keep it
moving. Swivel bearings should also be considered, and in many cases, they are often overlooked. By choosing swivels
with precision bearings, the force required to turn and maneuver a load can be drastically reduced. Employees will need
to exert far less energy to move the same load, and that goes a long way toward reducing injury and boosting
productivity.
Tread Shape and Material
Even the tread on a caster wheel can lend to its ergonomic design. It’s important to choose options made from the right
materials to properly balance durability and ergonomics, too. Tread should be rounded on the ends or crowned in order
to further reduce exertion when starting or turning a load. The material itself also matters. Though rubber offers
numerous benefits in the workplace, a caster with polyurethane tread is even more beneficial. It often lasts longer and
can withstand harsh conditions without sacrificing its other ergonomic benefits.
If you’re in the market for ergonomic casters designed to reduce workplace injuries, improve overall performance and
productivity, and perhaps even save you money in the long run, these features are all very important considerations.
Before making your decision, ensure that these conditions have been met, and you can rest assured that you are
purchasing some of the most ergonomic and durable casters on the market today.