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Manual palletizing may look easy. But behind each carry is a set of forces, postures, and dangers that add up quick, particularly when executed a whole lot of instances per shift.
That’s why the NIOSH Composite Lifting Index (CLI) exists. And for those who’ve by no means heard of it earlier than, it’s time to get acquainted—as a result of it could possibly be the important thing to defending your workforce and unlocking quicker ROI from automation.
Let’s break it down.
What is the CLI?
The CLI is a instrument developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It measures the ergonomic threat of handbook lifting duties within the office—particularly when a employee is lifting a number of objects, in numerous positions, at totally different frequencies.
In brief, it solutions this query:
Is this carry secure, or are you pushing your folks too far?
The larger the CLI, the larger the chance of damage.
What the numbers imply
Here’s the straightforward rule of thumb:
- CLI ≤ 1.0 → Acceptable for many employees
- CLI > 1.0 → Increased threat
- CLI > 3.0 → High-risk, pressing want for redesign or automation
Now think about this: One of your operators is palletizing 12 lb containers, 700+ instances per hour, with fixed bending and reaching. That’s precisely the kind of high-frequency, high-strain situation the place CLI spikes—and damage threat skyrockets.
Why do you have to care?
Because a CLI of three.0 or larger doesn’t simply imply somebody may get harm. It means somebody possible will—and shortly.
Injuries brought on by overexertion and repetitive lifting are among the many most typical and expensive office points:
- $39,000+ common price per again damage
- Lost workdays, misplaced output, rising insurance coverage prices
- Turnover and recruitment challenges
If your CLI is excessive, your margins are already underneath stress.
.
Automation drops your CLI to zero
The handiest option to scale back your CLI? Eliminate the handbook carry totally.
That’s the place cobot palletizing is available in. With a Robotiq system:
- You take away employees from the chance zone
- You eradicate ergonomic pressure on the supply
- You enhance consistency, security, and throughput
No lifting = no CLI = no damage threat.
And with Robotiq’s turnkey palletizing options, you’ll be able to go from handbook to automated in as little as 3 days—with out facility redesign or weeks of downtime.
Bottom Line: Your Lifting Risk Has a Number
The Composite Lifting Index provides you a transparent, data-backed option to consider threat. But you don’t have to grow to be an ergonomics skilled to behave on it. If your workforce continues to be palletizing by hand, the CLI is probably going already within the hazard zone.
So don’t anticipate the damage report.
💻 Join our ergonomics webinar with licensed security skilled Carla Silver – register immediately!
📘 Need extra particulars and statistics? Download our Ergonomics book, additionally by Carla Silver.
