From 2017
HONG Kong headquartered Gammon
Construction recently invested in two
sets of “zero-gravity arms” (Zero G Tool
Arms) from Australia’s Sigma Ergonomics
in an effort to reduce the workload of its
employees.
Manufactured by US company Ekso
Bionics, the innovative mounted exoskeletal
system functions without the need for power,
allowing workers to comfortably operate
heavy tools including impact drills, chipping
hammers and grinders for extended periods.
With the zero-gravity arms shouldering
the weight of the equipment, workers are
not affected by the strain and fatigue caused
by repetitive tasks such as drilling, tiling,
chipping and grinding.
The Ekso Bionics Aerial System, to which
the Zero G system is mounted, is designed
to increase safety and productivity while
working from an elevated work platform
(EWP).
As well as eliminating the risk of dropping
heavy tools from heights, the system
significantly reduces the risk of injury from
heavy tool usage and awkward body position.
In a recent direct comparison with an
Access Work Platform (AWP) at a height
services installation, the Zero G system
improved the productivity of the drilling
work task by over 50% while reducing worker
fatigue and improving safety and efficiency.
Tony Brooks, a director of Sigma
Ergonomics, said that Ekso Bionics has spent
several years designing and perfecting a
range of ergonomic tool arms which are used
to weightlessly manoeuvre heavy tools.
“Already proven across the world, the arms
rely on spring tension and an innovative
design to balance the weight of tools used in
drilling, sanding, riveting and many other
applications.
“The Ekso Bionics Zero G arms are
designed to hold tool payloads of up to 19kg
and fully balance the weight thus allowing
the user to freely, safely and accurately
manoeuvre the load in any direction without
injury or fatigue.”
Mr Brooks said the system requires less
than 30 minutes of operator training to
achieve competency and that the ergonomic
tool arms have a variety of mounting options
to suit the application including portable
gantries, carts, jib arms and linear rails.
“As well, these systems require very
little maintenance, no expensive inputs
like electricity or compressed air, and have
already been successfully used in a variety
of industries from aerospace and defence to
automotive manufacturing.
“With Ekso Bionics’ innovative
exoskeleton technology, workers can now
complete heavy hand tool tasks with less
fatigue, better workmanship and fewer
workplace injuries. Plus companies often
enjoy a high ROI, sometimes less than a year,
making the decision to invest that much
easier,” Mr Brooks said.
