Changes to work on LPSS of concern
Post’s proposal to introduce manual induction at the singulation workstation on the Large Parcel Sorting System (LPSS) is a concern as it has elements of undesirable manual handling.
The manual singulation workstation was assessed in ergomonics repots by ERGOS back in 2013. The ERGOS reports concluded that due to the repetitive nature of the work it is a high risk work situation. Notwithstanding this they judged the singulation workstation compliant with ergonomics requirements, mostly because the exposure times are limited to 2 hours and there are natural breaks in the sustained work activity. Reasoning derives from information provided by Post on work times, work rates and parcel sizes.
Overall, this work has been made more acceptable by eliminating the need to handle every parcel in order to straighten their line of movement. The workstation should be more of a monitoring and controlling task, which is in line with contemporary work practices to eliminate unnecessary manual handling practices.
To introduce manual feeding from ULD/pallet into the LPSS at the singulation workstation which has been assessed as to be high risk activity is unacceptable, as is the outdated idea of two-person lifting of heavy parcels.
