4 Go beyond the traditional workspace - Mobile ergonomics with Treston carts Selecting the right cart is not complicated, but there are certain considerations to take into account to ensure you get the best possible cart for your needs. 1. Why do you need the cart? What is its purpose? Are flexibility and easy reconfiguration important features of the cart? If you have a fixed task and fixed need for the cart, a specific cart for that need will most likely be the best solution for you. But if you need a cart that can be easily adapted to changing needs and production processes, choose a cart that has a modular structure, a wide range of accessories, and good ergonomics, which will help you flexibly adapt the cart to a multitude of tasks. 2. What are the objects being handled on the cart? Are you moving lightweight boxes of the same size and weight or bulky equipment that can differ in size and weight? The weight and shape of the objects handled determine the load capacity and shelf and work surface size of your cart. If the size of handled objects varies, select a height adjustable work surface and/or shelves to ensure proper ergonomics no matter what size of objects you handle. Tilted shelves improve access and handling of objects, as it enables you to work from your power zone (see page 6). 3. How are the objects handled? Are they sorted or unsorted? Can you stack them or are they loose? Especially for unsorted and loose objects, it is better to equip the cart shelves with edges and/or rubber mats, to ensure the goods do not fall over when moving. Remember though that shelves with edges make it more difficult to handle, lift and lay down heavy objects. Another possibility is to use a caged cart, where the side walls of the cart are at least partially closed in order to help keep objects in place. Mesh panels are a good option for this: they allow visual inspection and keep the construction light. 4. What kind of working environment is it? Do you have to enter doors with the cart? How wide are the walkway spaces? If you have to move through doors in different workspaces and/or long distances within the space, checks the walkway and door widths to ensure sufficient space. 5. What type of casters should I have? A quality caster is of the appropriate size in relation to the working environment and purpose of the cart. See the next spread of this leaflet for more information on casters. 6. How about handles? Carts that are moved around a lot and transported for longer distances should be equipped with at least one handle, to make handling, pushing and pulling easy, effortless and ergonomic. See the next spread of this leaflet for more information on handles. 7. How often is the cart used? If you have a cart in active everyday use, invest in a high quality, reliable and durable cart with high quality casters. This might be a more expensive initial investment, but in the long run a high quality cart will pay for itself with its long lifetime and flexibility in use. 8. Consult the people using the cart in their work. They have the best hands-on experience and can give valuable input on the required features, such as size and load capacity, as well as on the accessories needed to perform the work ergonomically and efficiently. Knowing your loads helps you to buy equipment of appropriate capacity. 9. How ergonomic is the cart? As a quick ergonomics check, make sure the handles, work surfaces, and accessories are easily height adjustable to adjust to the worker and task at hand to ensure proper ergonomics. Further information on ergonomics for manual handling of loads is on the next spread. What to consider when selecting a cart?
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