Artificial lawn layers suffer from back disorders owing to kneeling in awkward positions. Eybl Sportbau eliminated this risk through the automation of the task. The task
The Company Eybl-Sportbau is an Austrian company whose main activity is trade in sports items and the construction of sports fields. The company has clients in Austria, Italy and Germany and sells, places and pastes about 100.000 m² artificial lawn. The pasting procedure is a manual and time-consuming task. The paste is mixed to produce a liquid mixture and entered into the pasting machine. In order to apply the paste, the pasting surface is passed over the pasting machine which leads to a 20-60m pasting width. The artificial lawn pieces are put on the pasting surface and rolled on manually.
This work is performed about 100 times per season (March to November) and takes about 1 hour per day, for about 100 to 150 pasting widths.
The risks
Lawn layers work in awkward positions (e.g. bent or kneeling), which cause back disorders.
The solution and methodology
Eybl Sportbau performed a risk assessment using the risk assessment model developed by the Österreichische Unfallversicherungsanstalt AUVA.
The risk assessment indicated that the main factors were the bent and kneeling working positions. To eliminate the risk Eybl Sportbau developed and constructed a machine which automated the pasting procedure. The solution involved changes in work equipment, changes in work organisation and procedures, including the replacement of a toxic paste by a less dangerous pasting substance.
It is a solution developed by the company, where the employees have developed the machine and assure the quality internally.
The effectiveness of results
The solution completely eliminated the risk:
- The employees no longer carry out this work in a kneeling or bent position;
- The product quality was improved. Thanks to the even distribution of the glue on the surface, , it does not dry out and sticks better;
- The work process was improved.
The solution is transferable. Each year about 2 million m² of artificial lawn is produced in the European Union, which is pasted manually. In Austria about 100 000m² is pasted each year. At the Cologne trade fair on sports construction, similar pasting machines were presented, and the Austrian machine was used as a model.
The employee participation
Employees participated in the risk assessment and in the development of the new machine. The employees constructed the machine, the quality is controlled by the quality manager.
The costs and benefits
Work organisation has been improved. The paste can be applied more rapidely which reduces the time needed to lay and stick the artificial lawn. The number of manual applications have been reduced by one third. This development has enabled an improvement in the quality of the products.
Entrepreneur's Testimony
"The ergonomic design of our workplaces helps to maintain the safety and health of our employees. This constitutes an essential contribution to the motiviation of our employees which (in turn) benefits our company and our clients.
Our employees are permanently trained in environmental and safety procedures. Each employee at Eybl Sportbau knows about the importance of first aid and safety for himself and others" |
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