Worthington Cylinders

Worker safety poster hanging at Worthington Cylinders facility.

The hand assembly of torches, torch kits and related accessories at Worthington Cylinders frequently involved small parts and quick cycle times. Ergonomics issues were the culprit of most employee injuries, with strains and sprains costing the company an average $11,000 per case. Worthington’s ergonomics committee attempted to improve safety, but was stalled by a complex workstation assessment tool. To develop an easy-to-use application and deepen workforce understanding of ergonomics, Worthington found engineering help at UB and funding assistance from the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) grant.