Tote Lifts: Reducing the Physical Demands at Work
Columbus Metropolitan Library
Innovation Synopsis
The Tote Lifts project is part of our Lean at Work initiative created specifically to reduce the physical burden of work. The primary motivator for this initiative is to care for staff health and well-being by reducing the amount of lifting, bending and carrying of bins in everyday work.
In Lean (a process improvement methodology), the approach to Muri, the term for overburden, is that Muri leads to inefficient and wasteful processes and leads to stressed, tired, and overworked team members. Eliminating Muri raises team morale and well-being while reducing inefficiency in processes. Goals of this project are:
- Reduce the physical demands of everyday work (bend, lift, reach)
- Prevent or reduce repetitive motion injuries before they happen
- Improved opportunities for hiring and/or retaining staff: less need for lifting for those who can’t repeatedly lift the weight of a bin, either long term or short term
Challenge/Opportunity
Materials move from one location to another via bins, or totes. These materials are primarily customer holds, new materials, and returns. Every day our locations receive these bins and work to check in the items. On average, each bin holds 30 items and weighs 32 pounds. The bins are delivered in stacks six bins high. Our busiest locations receive, on average, between 25 and 50 bins a day, depending on the location and the day.
Every day staff are lifting, carrying, and sliding bins. Then they are reaching, bending and twisting to remove items from the bins. The problem to solve was “how can we eliminate or reduce the amount of lifting, bending, reaching, and/or carrying of bins?” We needed something that could grab the bins so that we weren’t physically loading them onto a lift; could safely carry six bin stacks both in height and weight requirements; could adjust up and down to the exact height of the staff member working from the bin; and is easy to maneuver.
Key Elements of Innovation
After piloting options at our locations, we are using a LiftTrac lift. The lift is pushed manually with four rotating wheels for easy maneuvering. The lifting arms are powered and push button operated to lift or lower bins. The power is from a long lasting rechargeable battery. The arms are custom built to the exact spacing required and can hold up to six bins at one time. It can raise to or grab from the top of a stack. Staff use the lift to move stacks of bins, work from an open bin, or pull bins from sorting racks, especially the higher racks.
Our eleven busiest locations received a tote lift this year directly impacting the work of 123 staff members and indirectly impacting the work of everyone else at the branch who may use the lift occasionally. The physical burden of moving library materials has nearly been eliminated and future possibilities are just beginning to be understood. From a long-time staff member, “I never want to pick up a bin again and now I don't have to!"
Achieved Outcomes
Lifts are too new for data on injuries, hiring or retention. Staff response is positive; responses include:
• We have staff with back problems and other medical conditions that they don’t want to miss work over. The lift is an absolute god send then! It drastically cuts down bending and lifting when checking in delivery.
• “The lift has significantly lowered the amount of squatting and lifting I have to do and has made a significant impact on the amount of work I can do in a day.”
• "I really like using the lift. It takes a bit more time, but it really saves the physical toll it used to take to lift and move so many heavy boxes. I personally am really glad we have one!"
• “You do not have to push and lift the bins because the tote is so easy to use. Without the tote it is tough on your back moving everything around.”
• Moving bins from the top rack is challenging no matter one’s build/age. Now, we can slide full bins from the top and move them across the room.
