ErgoAg Company
P.O. Box 1087
Aptos CA 95001
(831)688-6951
E-mail bruce.roberts@sbcglobal.net
Web Site- http://www.ergoag.com
NEW SUSPENSION BACK SAVING DEVICE INCREASES WORKER PRODUCTIVITY IN
THE FIELD
_ErgoAg Company of Aptos California
has a new-patented design of back saving device that will allow more productivity
out of a day’s work. But more importantly prolong the life of the person’s
back where frequent bending occurs. According to the AERC, the California
Department of Industrial Relations shows almost half of all occupational injuries
occurred in the agricultural production area. An analysis of ten years of
injury data in California's agriculture showed that 43% of all reported agricultural
non- fatal disabling injuries were sprains and strains, of which 40% were
back injuries. Nowhere is this more clearly understood than in the Agriculture
industry where the human body is tested to its physical limits. Farm workers
are constantly bending or stooping to perform countless back straining tasks.
_
_The HappyBack simply relieves the majority of
pressure off of the lower back (the weakest part of the body) by redirecting
it to the legs and buttocks (the strongest parts of the body). It has a unique
mechanical advantage in that it allows the upper body to literally overcome
the force of gravity.
_The rugged frame is made up of high quality
Fiberglass rods, which allow full bending flexibility. Fiberglass rods act
much like a fishing pole. They have a memory. When bent, they always want
to bring the operator to his original (upright) position. The rebound force
produced by the fiberglass rods actually provides a “lift component”.
This allows the upper body to reach equilibrium in a stooped position. Its
rugged, lightweight design is fully portable and allows maximum flexibility
and freedom for the operator’s arms to perform work.
_Says Bruce Roberts, the HappyBack’s inventor
“It’s just simple mechanics. I’ve had back problems myself
and know how painful it can be to bend over all day long. I see farm laborers
bending over all the time in the fields and know that their work life is about
5-6 years before their backs are shot. After that, younger workers with healthy
backs typically replace them, and the cycle continues. When workers can’t
work, they can’t support their families anymore. I believe that using
the HappyBack will prolong their work life many years”.
_Why does bending cause injury? What many people
don’t understand is that the human back operates on a 10:1 ratio. Bending
over to lift a 10-pound object actually puts 100 pounds of pressure on your
lower back. When you add in the 105 pounds of the average human upper torso,
you see that lifting a ten-pound object actually puts 1,150 pounds of pressure
on the lower back. If you were 25 pounds overweight, it would add an additional
250 pounds of pressure on your back every time you bend over. Given these
figures, it is easy to see how repetitive bending can quickly cause back injury.
The HappyBack has many other applications, such as the construction industry.
carpenters, roofers, framers, concrete workers can all reduce the risk of
back injury. People who require prolonged bending over a table such as surgeons,
auto mechanics, and conveyer line workers can now enjoy comfort where they
couldn’t before.
_What is it made of? The basic components are
fiberglass rods and fabric. All materials have very high resistance to corrosion
and wear. The space age material that makes up the chest harness allows “breathing”
in hot weather, and is washable. It is easily adjustable to fit 95% of all
users.
Employers and workers will benefit. When the work place and jobs are designed
to suit the workers, good things start to happen. Productivity, quality, profitability
and morale go up. Worker injury, worker's comp claims, insurance premiums,
turnover and absenteeism go down. Says Roberts; “My goal is to provide
a Win-Win for the employer - employee relationship. I feel the HappyBack is
a cost effective solution to reduce back injury”.
Roberts can be contacted at:
ErgoAg Company
P.O. Box 1087
Aptos CA 95001
(831)688-6951
web site- http://www.ergoag.com