Employees repeatedly reach to conveyors to obtain frozen parts for bagging and reach to place filled bags back on the conveyor. If bagging fixtures are placed on top of tables that are too high, employees may need to reach up to above shoulder height to place product into bags. Repetitive reaching stresses the shoulder and upper back.

• Use diverter bars to push the product closer to the employee.
• Reduce width of conveyor so the product is presented closer to the employee.
• Position bagging fixtures and product so all activities of the task can be performed with the elbows in close to the torso.
• Tilt work surface so product slides to employee.
• Develop both left- and right-hand stations so employees can rotate through different stations and experience periods of working rest.
• Provide adjustable work tables or stands so task can be performed without torso bending or reaching.

Standing for a long time reduces blood flow to the legs, forces isolated muscles to work for an extended time, and increases risk of fatigue and varicose veins.

• Install sit/stand stools, which allow employees to lean and have their weight supported while still remaining in an upright posture.
• Rotate employees between tasks that require prolonged standing.
• Provide shoe insoles that cushion the feet and spread foot pressure over a larger surface.
• Provide a foot rest in front of employees so they can shift their posture.

Sealing the bag is also repetitive, as the employee must manually press the air out of the bag and use pinch grips to twist and feed the bag into the sealing machine.

• Rotate employees to tasks that do not require using repetitive forceful pinch grips.
• Use automatic bag sealers.
• Arrange the workstation so bags can slide while being moved from conveyors to sealing machines. This will limit lifting bags and reduce necessary finger force.

Employees must grab frozen product and hold it long enough to move it from the conveyor to the bag. Holding cold product can numb the hand, requiring employees to use more finger force to hold the product. Anything that increases the amount of finger force that must be used increases the risk of injury to the hand and forearm.

• Provide employees with properly fitting gloves.
• Develop an automated bagging machine so employees don't touch the product.