Guide palletizing may look easy. However behind each carry is a set of forces, postures, and dangers that add up quick, particularly when achieved lots of of instances per shift.
That’s why the NIOSH Composite Lifting Index (CLI) exists. And if you happen to’ve by no means heard of it earlier than, it’s time to get acquainted—as a result of it might be the important thing to defending your workforce and unlocking sooner ROI from automation.
Let’s break it down.
What’s the CLI?
The CLI is a instrument developed by the Nationwide Institute for Occupational Security and Well being (NIOSH). It measures the ergonomic threat of handbook lifting duties within the office—particularly when a employee is lifting a number of objects, in several positions, at totally different frequencies.
Briefly, it solutions this query:
Is that this carry secure, or are you pushing your individuals too far?
The upper the CLI, the higher the chance of harm.
What the numbers imply
Right here’s the easy rule of thumb:
- CLI ≤ 1.0 → Acceptable for many employees
- CLI > 1.0 → Elevated threat
- CLI > 3.0 → Excessive-risk, pressing want for redesign or automation
Now think about this: One in all your operators is palletizing 12 lb packing containers, 700+ instances per hour, with fixed bending and reaching. That’s precisely the kind of high-frequency, high-strain state of affairs the place CLI spikes—and harm threat skyrockets.
Why must you care?
As a result of a CLI of three.0 or greater doesn’t simply imply somebody may get damage. It means somebody seemingly will—and shortly.
Accidents attributable to overexertion and repetitive lifting are among the many most typical and dear office points:
- $39,000+ common value per again harm
- Misplaced workdays, misplaced output, rising insurance coverage prices
- Turnover and recruitment challenges
In case your CLI is excessive, your margins are already underneath strain.
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Automation drops your CLI to zero
The best strategy to scale back your CLI? Eradicate the handbook carry completely.
That’s the place cobot palletizing is available in. With a Robotiq system:
- You take away employees from the chance zone
- You get rid of ergonomic pressure on the supply
- You enhance consistency, security, and throughput
No lifting = no CLI = no harm threat.
And with Robotiq’s turnkey palletizing options, you possibly can go from handbook to automated in as little as 3 days—with out facility redesign or weeks of downtime.
Backside Line: Your Lifting Threat Has a Quantity
The Composite Lifting Index offers you a transparent, data-backed strategy to consider threat. However you don’t must develop into an ergonomics knowledgeable to behave on it. In case your workforce continues to be palletizing by hand, the CLI is probably going already within the hazard zone.
So don’t look forward to the harm report.
💻 Be part of our ergonomics webinar with licensed security knowledgeable Carla Silver – register immediately!
📘 Want extra particulars and statistics? Obtain our Ergonomics book, additionally by Carla Silver.
