NEWS

Lima, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) - Randall Bearings Inc. today welcomed Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison to its Greenlawn Avenue headquarters to showcase a new tool that protects its employees from injury. The company purchased a robotic arm with the help of a $40,000 Safety Intervention Grant from BWC. "Repetitive motions required for many Ohioans to perform their jobs can result in long-term severe injury, hindering their ability to continue working," said Morrison. "Just like a growing number of employers across the state, Randall discovered that working with safety experts at BWC can help reduce injuries and workers' compensation costs." Randall Bearings, with roots dating back to 1906, manufactures precision machined products, primarily bronze material. The company is a global supplier of machined bronze components to the oil and gas, construction and mining, fluid control, agricultural, transportation and construction industries. During its three shifts of operation, the company continually operates a lathe machine that produces around 50 parts per hour. The 17-step manufacturing process is highly repetitive, requiring various hand movements, and gripping and grasping motions. The work requires a single employee to perform as many as 7,200 hand motions during an eight-hour shift. This repetition raises the risk of work-related injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tendonitis. The robotic arm grasps parts and maneuvers them throughout the 17-step process involved in the manufacturing process, greatly reducing the risk of injury to employees. "Randall Bearings is very pleased with the implementation of the robotic arm in our manufacturing processes," said Mary Dupes, Human Resources Director for Randall Bearings. "We are excited about the possibilities this provides for a safer work environment for our associates." BWC's Safety Intervention Grant Program assists Ohio employers in purchasing equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with a particular task or operation. Learn more about the program here and view stories of previous grant recipients at BWC's YouTube channel.