e2n017 ‘The Science of Caster Whos and Impact on Workplace Ergonomics = Darcor DARCOR The Science of Caster Wheels and Impact on Workplace Ergonomics By Anton Malek | Caster Technology, Workplace Ergonomics | January 26th, 2016 | Comments (0) Workplace ergonomics play a vital role in today's facilities, particularly in environments where there is a focus on transporting heavy loads. There are numerous areas in which workplace ergonomics best practices can be followed to reduce workplace injuries. An often overlooked and surprisingly important area is cart design. Designing and equipping carts for transporting heavy loads is a crucial area of focus. Creating the best cart for the specific application can have a major impact on workplace ergonomics. Not only is the design of the structure of the cart important (e.g. handhold height/orientation/type, design, stability, size), but the casters used on the cart can have a significant effect as well There are two key wheel factors that should be examined. When applied correctly, these two factors can significantly reduce push/pull forces decreasing the risk of workplace injuries: + Caster wheel material + Caster wheel diameter The Science of Caster Wheel Material Material sciences have progressed the capabilities of providing some of the most ergonomically advanced caster wheels in market to date, Wheels can now be selected depending on a variety of factors including floor type and condition that will significantly reduce the forces an end user would need to apply to move a cart. When it comes to rolling resistance, the combination of floor type, condition and wheel material play a large role in the values. Rolling resistance can be measured using the following formula: F= y*Wir where: F = rolling resistance (Ibf) = coefficient of rolling friction (between a wheel material and floor surface) (in) we jormal force (Ibf) = m'g = mass*gravity radius of the whee! (in) What this equation tells us is that as the coefficient of friction increases (keeping the load capacity and radius of the wheel constant), the rolling resistance also increases. As mentioned in the above point, the coefficient of friction is a product of the wheel material and floor surface, which means that each different wheel material on a similar floor will give different rolling resistance values. The chart shows the calculated rolling resistance forces for a polyurethane wheel (PU), cast iron wheel (Cl) and a phenolic wheel (P) as they are rolled over a smooth, steel floor. At relatively low load capacities, the wheels perform similarly. The difference becomes more evident when loads. are heavier, demonstrating the increasing dependence on the wheel material. This is significant for a company hip kdarcorcomsiance-castr-wheal-impact-workplace-ergonomics! 1e2n017 ‘The Science of Caster Whos and Impact on Workplace Ergonomics = Darcor Wheel Material - Rolling Resistance vs. Load Capacity o 5° 8 404 5 Bao ser 3 * —Hcisteel © | = —e—P-Stee! 5 z 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 Load Capacity [Ibf] that has an ergonomic or health and safety mandate to lower push/pull forces of a cart. As an example, if the goal was to achieve a 35 Ib push/pull force, the table demonstrates that polyurethane wheels would not be suitable and phenolic wheels are borderline acceptable. It's important to note that in this example, the floor is @ ‘smooth, clean level surface. In many cases, the cast iron wheel would be a poor choice if the floor is rough, uneven or dirty. The Science of Caster Wheel Diameter The wheel diameter (or radius) is also a significant contributing factor in the ergonomic performance of caster wheels. The chart shows how the radius of a caster influences rolling resistance for each wheel material for a load capacity of 4500 Ibf. For example, if a rolling resistance of 50 Ibs is required, a 4” diameter cast iron wheel should be used. However, if a polyurethane wheel is required, a 6" diameter wheel would be needed. Apply the Science of Caster Wheel Radius and Material to Choose the Optimal Wheel ‘Combining the science of caster wheel radius and material can help you choose the optimum wheel design to meet your company’s ergonomic needs. Other factors that may play a role in choosing the right wheel material are shock absorption, noise reduction or debris resistance. If you missed them, check out some our previous blog posts: + 5 Questions to Ask when Choosing a Caster + Why Noise Reducing Casters Are Important for Workplace Ergonomics + Caster Technology: Why a Soft Wheel Outperforms a Hard Wheel For a thorough overview of workplace ergonomics and pushipull tasks, download the Guide to Workplace Ergonomics, Darcor has a modem test facility where we can measure ergonomic performance of various wheel materials hip kdarcorcomsiance-castr-wheal-impact-workplace-ergonomics! aeerano17 The Science of Caster Wheels and impact on Workplace Ergonomics = Darcor Rolling Resistance vs. Wheel Radius. 80 5 70 50 —Pu-steel 30 4 Be cisteel 20 —e-P-stee! Rolling Resistance [Ibf & 2 4 5 8 10 n Wheel Diameter [in] under various conditions. If you're interested in testing a particular wheel on a specific floor surface, please feel free to contact our caster technology engineering team Recommended casters hip kdarcorcomsiance-castr-wheal-impact-workplace-ergonomics!