21 October 2020
The Exoskeleton, an answer for sustainable employability?
Every employer has a responsibility with regard to the vitality and sustainable employability of its employees. As a leading facility services provider, EW Facility Services has health and employability of its employees high on its agenda. In order to support employees to continue to function healthily and vitally, the organisation is always on the lookout for innovations that can help. In March of this year, a pilot was started with the use of exoskeletons. This pilot investigates to what extent the use of these exoskeletons has an effect on the physical load during the performance of the work and the energy level of the employees after a working day.
Beating heart of the organisation
EW Facility Services is not just about cleaning products and the environment for a better world for tomorrow. This also applies to its employees by ensuring a pleasant and healthy working environment. Eva Sack-Fopma, Manager Absenteeism Support: "Our cleaning employees perform physically demanding work. It is therefore extremely important that they are able to do their job in a healthy way and use their body in a responsible way. After all, they are the beating heart of our organisation". In order to investigate whether the use of supportive aids can contribute to this, EW Facility Services, in cooperation with Pre-Tec, is testing the use of a wrist and back exoskeleton, also known as a brace. Aniek Averesch of Pre-Tec: "Measuring is knowing. With the aid of 3D Motion Technology, we have therefore digitally mapped out the load on one of EW Facility Services' cleaning staff during the cleaning process". Eva adds: "With and without the use of the tools, the load was tested and we are very enthusiastic. The first measurement showed positive results and prompted us to test the use of the braces on a larger scale".
Pilot in second phase
The pilot is currently in its second phase. Within the cleaning sector it is mainly about back and wrist support and that is why wrist and back braces are being tested at different locations. A definitive conclusion cannot yet be drawn at this stage. "What we do know is that ergonomic knowledge is needed to supervise this process properly," says Aniek. "Our Ergocoach Marjolein Willemen therefore plays an important role in this pilot. The combination of the tools and the right posture is essential for the successful use of the braces. Every week Marjolein visits the pilot locations and gives tips and support", confirms Eva. Aniek continues: "In this way you stimulate the use of the aids. In the beginning it will feel uncomfortable for the employee, you have to go through that. You really have to look again at how you deal with your body. It's not just pain relief or fatigue relief, but a whole new way of dealing with and listening to your own body". Eva concludes: "If the pilot is successful, we will look at how we can roll this out further nationwide within the organisation.
