A Lowe's Hardware Store Is Trialling Exoskeletons To Give Workers a Helping Hand (theverge.com) 48
slew writes: Okay, this isn't Aliens 2, but hardware chain Lowe's is "outfitting employees with a simple exoskeleton to help them on the job," reports The Verge. "The company has partnered with Virginia Tech to develop the technology, which makes lifting and moving heavy objects easier. The non-motorized exoskeletons are worn like a harness, with carbon fiber rods acting as artificial tendons -- bending when the wearer squats, and springing back when they stand up. Lowe's has issued four of the custom-built suits to employees at a store in Christiansburg, Virginia. The equipment has been in use for over a month and the company says early feedback is extremely positive. '[Employees] wear it all day, it's very comfortable, and it makes their job easier,' says Kyle Nel, the director of Lowe's Innovation Labs, adding that Lowe's is working with scientists from Virginia Tech to conduct a proper survey of the technology's usefulness. 'It's early days, but we're doing some major studies,' he says."
Human greed (Score:2)
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I see new technologies making manual labor less of an effort as categorically good.
If these devices wind up increasing worker injuries on the job, due to increased demands they lift or move around heavy objects? Then that's a management failure ... misusing or misunderstanding the capabilities the device gives people.
Every Lowes store I've been in has at least one person driving a forklift type vehicle around to do most of the moving of really large objects. I don't think that's going to change. This sounds
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No way man. That fork lift has already "imposed other health problems on the workers" see. They're sitting around all day instead of standing! This is an affront to basic human rights obviously. What a purposely obtuse and disingenuous comment by your op.
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I would be surprised if they get rid of existing tools with any dispatch; they'll probably see what existing labor-saving tools fall into significant disuse and in what cases those tools do get occasionally used. The biggest risk is probably employees choosing to ignore the normal two-man lift rules for picking up some of the heavier or bulkier objects and getting hurt because of that.
At the moment they have very sturdy step-stools, very sturdy stairs, pallet-jacks, and forklifts. The step-stools and stai
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And if they fall asleep or die from exhaustion, the endoskeleton will keep on working until the shift is over.
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Hey! Who turned off the lights?
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Generally this set up is beneficial to the worker as well as the company.
First of all, they tend to get paid more money. Not a straight percent increase - if they do 30% more work, they tend to get 20% more money. Also, the job itself moves closer to skilled labor, among other things.
Secondly, the conversion is rarely exactly equal, and is more often in the favor of the worker. If the machine eases human effort by 34%, they are often expect to work 30% more, but occasionally it goes the other way and the
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Or the less dystopian scenario that workers do roughly the same amount of day-to-day work, but are less prone to acute and chronic injuries, which saves the company money on less workman's comp claims, fewer incidents to report to OSHA, lower health insurance rates, etc.
Hospitals should be testing this out with nursing staff in hospitals, which have some of the highest rates of on the job lifting related injuries (from lifting/supporting patients). http://www.npr.org/2015/02/04/... [npr.org]
Re:Human greed (Score:4)
Are you really helping workers if, once given the exoskeleton, you expect them to lift much heavier items more often?
In this case, it looks to me that the benefit to the workers and company is that the device keeps the worker's back straight and enforces good lifting posture. Where I see how it can help some with the load, it's not going to really be that helpful. However, enforcing good posture will be effective in reducing back injuries it will be a huge benefit to both the company (and it's workers compensation insurance costs) and employees.
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There are cheaper devices called back braces that are already in use with proven effectiveness at exactly the same protective purpose. Look at the pictures in the article, it is the red cloth apron-like garment worn by all workers.
And if you look at the pictures, this device IS a back brace too.... But braces don't ensure proper posture... I think this device does.
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The sequel is actually Aliens (Score:1)
Not "Aliens 2".
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Nope... It won't... It provides no additional strength, just support.
This thing is more like wearing a spring... As you squat, the spring makes it easier to push back up... Consider it a reverse squat machine..
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It's not just that. It also saves the spine. It transfers the weight directly from your arms to your legs, saving your back a LOT of work.
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First, if you think everyone always lifts correctly, then you need to learn a lot. But even when you lift right, it still puts a strain on your lower back. Or do you think the weight magically is transferred from your arms to the ground?
No. Even if you are lifting correctly, any weight you carry in your arms or back is transferred through your spine and that puts stress on it. Looking at it, this device clearly transfers weight from your upper back to your legs, bypassing your lower back.
It physically
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So... You don't think this thing just MIGHT help maintain the right posture while lifting? We are going to have to disagree on that. I think the device does help in maintaining the correct posture, if for no other reason than the subconscious affect of having the thing on...
BTW.. Sorry if my language was imprecise about the back being involved in lifting. The way the correct posture is taught is by saying "Don't use your back, use your legs to lift." Of course the back is involved, but it should be as s
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FWIW, The Lowes employee wearing the exoskeleton harness photographed in the article does not appear to be using proper lifting technique. His back is rounded, not straight, but maybe the harness still enforces proper side-to-side posture. I question how much this harness is enforcing posture vs transferring load stress off the back, but the article is mostly fluff. I would appreciate a better explanation of the mechanics of this harness, because people in this discussion [so far] seem to be stabbing in the
the first guy to take one out of the store (Score:2)
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and to a party with video wins.
It is so abundantly clear you didn't read the summary, much less TFA. It looks like a back brace.
Darkness I expect from the Empire, Obi-Wan... (Score:2)
At all costs, do not let United Airlines find out about this!
Very cool, but exposed CF rods are bad (Score:2)
When they break they become hazardous. They rarely throw significant shrapnel but they're nasty to the touch. Sort of in between fiberglass... and glass. And having them exposed like that makes them vulnerable to abrasion, which is what actually leads to failure.
"Trialling?" (Score:2)
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The guy in the picture (Score:2)
If that is a Lowe's employee wouldn't' it have been more beneficial to pay for his gym pass and say a few weeks of personal trainer. I bet after 3 week and him loosing 20-30 LB they'd have a more fit and happy employee that now will work better even with the exo.
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I bet after 3 week and him loosing 20-30 LB
It's really not safe to lose 30 pounds in three weeks, and most people can't physically do that.
There is no Aliens 2 (Score:2)
It's just called Aliens. COME ON EDITORS! :)
Workers at Lowes? (Score:1)
Get away from her you bitch! (Score:1)