Factors Affecting Productivity and Ergonomics of Supermarket Checkers

Madigan, Edwin F.; Lehman, Katherine R.

doi:10.1177/154193129604000710

Cited by 8 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Others have indicated that changes in checkout workstation design, without modifying the methods of scanning, lifting and transferring objects, will only partially reduce the risk of injury 8,13 . In contrast, although the trunk is the most affected segment among checkout operators (60.0 -77.0% of incidence) 4,13 , no studies have performed a biomechanical analysis of the trunk to observe whether changes in checkout workstation design would help to reduce the occupational hazards of these operators. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the kinematics of the trunk during a simulated checkout task in which two checkout workstation designs were compared.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of different supermarket checkout workstations on trunk kinematics of checkout operators

Rodacki¹,

Vieira²

2010

Rev. bras. fisioter.

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Objectives: This study analyzed the effect of a standard and a modified checkout workstation during a simulated task on trunk postures of a supermarket checkout operator. Methods: Eight participants performed a task involving grasping, scanning and depositing products, while 3D images of the trunk were collected. Results: A number of kinematic changes were observed in trunk posture. A greater anterior flexion (3.0±1.2 o ) and lateral bending during grasping (7.1±1.4 o ) were found in the standard checkout workstation when compared to the modified model (p<0.05). Other variables did not show significant differences (p>0.05). Discussion: The modified checkout workstation provided less lateral bending of the trunk to grasp products (8.1 o ± 2.8; p<0.05), which was considered an advantage with respect to the standard model. Changes in the sagittal and transversal planes were not observed (p>0.05), irrespective of the checkout workstations (p>0.05). The modified checkout workstation successfully reduced risk of injury in some aspects, particularly the problems associated with lateral bending of the trunk. Other studies are required to test whether such potential benefits are obtained on a daily basis. Conclusions: Supermarket checkout operators may be at high risk of occupational injury due to different workstation demands.Modifications to checkout workstation design are an attractive possibility to reduce postural stress and fatigue in checkout operators.Longitudinal studies are required to test whether changes observed in the present study are sustained in the long term.Key words: supermarket checkout operators; supermarket checkout workstation; checkout workstation design; posture. ResumoObjetivos: Analisar o efeito de um modelo padrão e de um modificado de checkout durante uma tarefa simulada de um operador de caixa de supermercado. Métodos: Oito participantes desempenharam uma tarefa envolvendo apanhar, ler e depositar produtos, enquanto imagens 3D do tronco foram coletadas. Resultados: Um número de mudanças cinemáticas foram observadas na postura do tronco. Uma maior flexão anterior (3.0±1.2 o ) e uma inclinação lateral durante o apanhar (7.1±1.4 o ) foram encontradas no checkout padrão quando comparadas ao modelo modificado (p<0.05). Outras variáveis não apresentaram mudanças significativas (p>0.05).Discussão: O checkout modificado causou menor inclinação lateral do tronco para apanhar produtos (8.1 o ± 2.8; p<0.05), o que foi considerado como uma vantagem em relação ao modelo padrão. Mudanças nos planos sagital transverso não foram observadas (p>0.05), independente do modelo do checkout (p>0.05). O modelo modificado se mostrou eficaz paras prover reduções de risco de lesão em alguns aspectos. Especificamente, problemas associados com as inclinações laterais do tronco podem ser reduzidos quando o checkout modificado é empregado. Outros estudos são necessários para testar se tais benefícios potenciais são obtidos em uso de base diária. Conclusões: Operadores de supermercado podem ter elevado risco de le...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of different supermarket checkout workstations on trunk kinematics of checkout operators

Rodacki¹,

Vieira²

2010

Rev. bras. fisioter.

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“…Bi-optic scanners consist of both horizontal and vertical windows that can read barcodes on four or ® ve sides of a product, thereby reducing the need to reorient the barcode toward the scanner. Bi-optic scanners have been shown to reduce wrist accelerations, lifting and awkward postures compared with traditional single-window scanners (Lehman and Marras 1994, Lehman 1996, Madigan and Lehman 1996.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of sitting versus standing and scanner type on cashiers

2001

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In the retail supermarket industry where cashiers perform repetitive, light manual material-handling tasks when scanning and handling products, reports of musculoskeletal disorders and discomfort are high. Ergonomics tradeoffs exist between sitting and standing postures, which are further confounded by the checkstand design and point-of-sale technology, such as the scanner. A laboratory experiment study was conducted to understand the effects of working position (sitting versus standing) and scanner type (bi-optic versus single window) on muscle activity, upper limb and spinal posture, and subjective preference of cashiers. Ten cashiers from a Dutch retailer participated in the study. Cashiers exhibited lower muscle activity in the neck and shoulders when standing and using a bi-optic scanner. Shoulder abduction was also less for standing conditions. In addition, all cashiers preferred using the bi-optic scanner with mixed preferences for sitting (n = 6) and standing (n = 4). Static loading of the muscles was relatively high compared with benchmarks, suggesting that during the task of scanning, cashiers may not have adequate recovery time to prevent fatigue. It is recommended that retailers integrate bi-optic scanners into standing checkstands to minimize postural stress, fatigue and discomfort in cashiers.

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“…109 Many factors such as checkout station design, shopping cart design, and checking out strategy, and scanning technology, affect cashier profession from both ergonomic and productivity perspectives. [110][111][112][113][114][115] Uncomfortable workstation design is one problem experienced by cashiers that needs to be evaluated and improved. 107,114,[116][117][118] To perform the checking out task it is necessary to scan the UPC printed on items to automatically identify them.…”

Section: Cashier Checkoutmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While advancements in scanning technology would be expected to have a fruitful impact on scanning performance and behavior, this impact can be limited by package design, and quality and proper placement of the UPC. 115,119,120 Failing to scan the barcode without reorienting the package usually leads to handling and manipulating the products to be scanned, potentially exposing cashiers to increased ergonomic risk. 111,121 Many…”

Section: Cashier Checkoutmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…134 In this regard, the handling function was evaluated by using different metrics, including the suitability of the package shape, weight, and size for handling, rigidity of the package, and the handling options offered. 135 The ease with which a package can be handled is affected by its dimensions and considered to be one of the factors affecting user 110 Kihlstedt and Hägg, 111 Lehman et al, 112 Hinnen et al, 113 Shinnar et al, 114 and Madigan and Lehman 115 Workstation design and scanning technology can affect cashiers' profession.…”

Section: Package Handlingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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State of the art of user packaging interaction (UPI)

Mumani

Stone

2018

Packag Technol Sci

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User packaging interaction (UPI) has evolved in packaging research because of its importance to users, manufacturers, and designers. A great deal of work addressing problems and suggesting potential improvements has been directed toward UPI. However, this work is not easily accessible to researchers as it lacks a cohesive structure. This paper serves as a platform for UPI researchers by presenting previous work UPI in an organized structure based on stages of interaction. Over 100 articles were reviewed to identify the scope of research in this area and then categorized according to stages of interaction. During the review of more articles, these stages of interaction were modified to ensure that they reflected all the reviewed articles. The review process resulted in the enumeration of the following stages: at point of purchase, checking out, handling, opening, and disposal. The related articles in each category are presented and discussed, and potential future work is presented. The articles were further categorized according to the age and gender of users under test, and packaging and product types considered. The review process has revealed different issues in the current research structure of UPI including the comprehensibility of the conducted research and the distribution of the reviewed articles. On the basis of this review, a model is proposed for improving the UPI by quantitatively evaluating the package design and affordances provided at each interaction stage.

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Factors Affecting Productivity and Ergonomics of Supermarket Checkers

Cited by 8 publications

References 7 publications

The effect of different supermarket checkout workstations on trunk kinematics of checkout operators

The effect of different supermarket checkout workstations on trunk kinematics of checkout operators

Effects of sitting versus standing and scanner type on cashiers

State of the art of user packaging interaction (UPI)

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