An analysis of scanning postures among grocery cashiers and its relationship to checkstand design

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent among US retail food workers. Cashiers who use electronic scanners appear to be at especially high risk for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Checkstand design has been implicated as a contributor to musculoskeletal injury among cashiers because workstation design can significantly impact working posture. The present study examines working posture among two groups of cashiers to determine if checkstand design is associated with substantial differences in posture and movement during scanning. The work activities of twenty grocery cashiers using one of two checkstand designs (front-facing and right-hand takeaway) were examined. Videotapes of cashiers performing scanning tasks were observed and associated postures and movements were visually coded. The right-hand takeaway design was associated with a significantly higher percentage of non-neutral trunk postures than the front-facing design. However, there were no significant differences in shoulder posture, grasp, or scanning motion associated with checkstand/scanner design. Factors that appeared to affect cashier work posture during scanning included stature, order size, and product type. Although improving the checkstand design may reduce the occurrence of certain awkward postures and static muscle loading conditions among cashiers, the success of these interventions is likely to be limited unless follow-up programmes are instituted to ensure that cashiers are able to use these designs effectively. Furthermore, fundamental changes in cashier work may be required to fully eliminate hazards for musculoskeletal disorders from this job.

Effects of sitting versus standing and scanner type on cashiers

“…Marras et al (1993Marras et al ( , 1994Marras et al ( , 1995, Grant et al (1993), Grant and Habes (1995) and Rodrigues (1989) assessed various checkstand designs by use of instrumentation to quantify joint dynamics, expert evaluation, posture estimation and heuristic analysis. These researchers recommended a frontfacing design (i.e.…”

Literature Review of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Risk Factors Among Supermarket Cashiers

“…Supermarket cashiers spend most of their work time at a checkout station, thus its design may have some effects on them. The checkout design is important, as it is a potential determinant for the prevalence of MSDs among supermarket cashiers as have been reported [26,29,149,150]. Many studies have been conducted on workstation ergonomics and its effect on the cashiers; however, it is out the scope of this literature review.…”

“…The etiology of MSDs occurrence remains unclear; however, some work-related factors increase the prevalence of MSDs among cashiers [26]. These factors include, (a) performing repetitive upper limb and hand activities [27], (b) working in a static posture [28], (c) performing work at high speed [23] and (d) worker satisfaction and dissatisfaction regarding the job [29].…”

“…Significant differences were found in the posture and movement of cashiers during scanning, according to the checkout design. While all cashiers tended to shift items from one hand to another during scanning, cashiers using the right-hand takeaway mostly used only one hand during scanning because of the assistance provided by this design, which allowed a swimming motion [26]. Therefore, using only one hand during scanning can lead to MSDs in this hand.…”

Working at the Check-in: Consequences for Health

“…In their study of supermarket check-out workers, Grant and Habes [44] found awkward postures to be only one of several ergonomic risk factors that may contribute to MSDs. Repetitive handling of merchandise was found to be a substantial source of physical stress to supermarket check-out workers.…”