IMPROVING DIESEL BATH BUCKET ERGONOMICS FOR ASPHALT CREW SAFETY
ViVA helped create more efficient systems of work in road construction maintenance systems.
PROJECT LEAD
PROJECT TEAM
Solo
PARTNERED WITH
Software Solutions, ErgoAnalyst
Context
Road pavement construction and maintenance are critical to infrastructure, enabling transportation, commerce, and connectivity. Maintenance tasks such as resurfacing, pothole repair, and equipment upkeep ensure safety, longevity, and functionality of roads. This work is often labour-intensive, requiring manual and mechanical interventions to manage high-risk environments. Road crew and construction management often accept the difficult work conditions without investigating new systems of work to improve these conditions.
Challenge
A road construction team found handling the diesel bath bucket to clean their long-handled tools, like shovels and rakes, posed significant risks, including awkward postures, exertion, and awkward lifting, with a poor interface to grasp the handles. This led to reported injuries and operational inefficiencies.
Approach
ViVA collaborated with crew, safety officers, and engineers to understand their needs and user applications in different scenarios. They researched options and elected to custom redesign the bucket.
Outcomes
Product design improvements led to a lighter weight, improved grip, better storage solutions, easier cleaning for maintenance and environmental compliance, and improved training procedures. The bucket redesign reduced musculoskeletal risks, improved handling efficiency, and reduced injury rates. The streamlined workflows improved compliance and worker satisfaction.