Gloves too play an important
role in ensuring good health among workers, especially those employed in car
factories. Audi’s Production division is improving ergonomics as well as health
and safety in its factories. Employees at the plants in Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm,
Brussels and Gyor are currently testing new medical gloves. These so called
production orthoses reduce pressure stress with many assembly tasks by more
than 50 percent. It is planned to put the special glove into series application
this year.
The employees in car-door assembly at Audi install approximately 300 trim strips per shift.
This subjects the wrist and the ball of the hand in particular to
increased stress. In order to reduce this stress, Audi has developed a joint-friendly orthosis together with Spörer AG, an Ingolstadt company that
specializes in orthopedic technology. When this special glove is used, the
hand is subjected to less strain while retaining its tactile sense and maximum
mobility. “With the production orthoses, we are once again demonstrating that
ergonomically designed workplaces have top priority at Audi. This helps us to
keep our employees healthy and effective, and also enhances the feeling of well-being in our production areas,” stated Prof. Dr. Hubert Waltl, Board of
Management Member for Production at AUDI AG.
In developing the glove, Audi
cooperated closely with its production workers. The interdisciplinary
development team consisting of plant doctors and occupational safety
specialists as well as planning and production staff regularly made use of
employee feedback to adjust the glove perfectly to the requirements. The result
is a breathable glove made of Teflon. In the area where pressure is exerted, it
has a shock-absorbent lining that reduces the forces acting on the hand. A
highly elastic fastener stabilizes the wrist.
At present, 1,000 Audi
employees are testing the orthoses at the plants in Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm,
Brussels and Gyor. The pilot project is part of the “Workplace of the Future”
area of the company’s ergonomic strategy. With “We for us. Active into the
future,” Audi is reacting to the large number of challenges brought by the
constantly changing world of work. At the end of this year, the production
orthoses will be available for all assembly-line workers at the four Audi
plants.
Source: Audi