How the Right Heavy-Duty Caster Can Promote Workplace Safety

How the Right Heavy-Duty Caster Can Promote
Workplace Safety
When it comes to safety in the workplace, there’s a good chance you focus on showing employees the right way to lift,
teaching them how to be observant, and holding safety meetings regularly to reinforce these ideas. Believe it or not, the
casters you use on carts and racks in the workplace can also improve safety a great deal. Here’s what you need to know
about the benefits of choosing the right heavy-duty casters.
The Leading Cause of Injuries in the Workplace
Per the 2016 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index report, overexertion is the number one cause of injuries and cost
businesses in the United States alone more than $15 billion in that year. Employees who are injured by overexerting
themselves must take time off to recover, and aside from impacting their own morale when they return, these injuries
also affect the morale of others working alongside them. When this is coupled with the costs of hospital bills and
insurance premiums, it’s easy to see just how beneficial it can be to reduce overexertion injuries.
Fortunately, there are numerous heavy duty caster wheels that are designed with ergonomics in mind. Features that
make it easier for operators to start, stop, and maneuver loads can have a drastic impact on morale by reducing injuries,
and when fewer employees are injured, productivity goes through the roof. TWERGO casters reduce initial push force by
anywhere from 25% to as much as 50%, for example, making them valuable in many facilities.
Hearing Loss – Second Only to Overexertion
The second most common cause of injuries in the workplace is hearing loss. The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has created strict guidelines that dictate how much noise employees should be exposed to during
their shifts, and employers who are not in concordance with those guidelines can face hefty fines – and they can be held
liable for their employee’s treatment, which often lasts a lifetime.
Noise-reducing casters are one of the simplest and easiest ways to reduce noise exposure. These are part of OSHA’s
recommended series of “engineering controls”, too. CasterShoX casters, for example, utilize a shock absorption system
that not only protects the load being moved (and the operator moving it), but also drastically reduces noise. What’s
more, using the right tread materials for the right surfaces can also play a role in reducing noise, so it’s important to
work with caster experts like Caster Concepts to come up with the best possible solutions.
Accidents and Collisions
Finally, choosing the right type of casters can even reduce the likelihood of accidents and collisions which, according to
the same Liberty Mutual report, are the fourth leading cause of workplace injuries. Features like brakes, toe guards, and
even drive casters can all play a role in reducing accidents and collisions that may lead to injuries. This can stop carts
from rolling over someone’s feet, make them easier to maneuver, and even stop them from rolling away when they’re
unattended.
There are many different ways to promote workplace safety, and while demonstrations or meetings can certainly go a
long way, so can providing a safer work environment. The heavy-duty casters you’re currently using could likely be
improved, and in doing so, you could reduce injuries, improve morale, boost production, and ultimately save a great
deal of money.