Moving Heavy Loads: Manual Handling vs. Electric Tuggers

Advantages of Powered Tuggers vs Manual Handling

Increased Efficiency and Productivity

Electric tuggers can transport materials much faster than manual methods, leading to higher throughput and reduced handling times. Likewise, by using an electric tugger to take the strain, a single operator can move the heaviest loads simply through thumb power. Arneg USA, a distinguished manufacturer of retail refrigeration recently used our SmartMover tuggers to take the movement of heavy carts from a six-person movement by hand, to a one-person job.

Enhanced Safety

Electric tuggers significantly reduce the risk of injuries compared to manual handling. Their ergonomic design minimizes physical strain on workers, preventing common musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. Travelers, one of the country’s leading workers compensation insurance carriers, analyzed more than 1.5M workers compensation claims between 2015 and 2019. The findings, published in the ‘Travelers Injury Impact Report’, highlight just how risky it is to keep staff moving heavy loads by hand.

The report found that the three most common causes of all injuries were:

• 29% overexertion
• 23% slips, trips and falls
• 13% struck by an object

Digging further into the report, the most common causes of workplace injuries found were:

• 38% were strains and sprains
• 35% were fractures, dislocations, contusions or inflammation
• ¼ of all claims analyzed involved the lower back and shoulders

Cost Savings

The National Safety Council (NSC) found that the average compensation cost for strain-related workplace injuries was $36,200 between 2020-2021 and that a total of 75,000,000 days were lost in 2022 due to workplace injuries.

Though the initial investment of a powered tugger is higher, the long-term savings are substantial. Reduced injury-related costs, lower staff absence, and improved productivity contribute to the overall cost efficiency of switching to a safer solution.

Healthcare and Injury Costs

Injuries from manual handling can result in significant healthcare expenses and compensation claims. Pedestrian tuggers help mitigate these costs by enhancing workplace safety and reducing the risk of injury.

Time-Saving Aspects

Powered tuggers streamline material movement, significantly reducing handling times compared to manual methods.

Impact on Workforce Productivity

Taking the strain out of moving heavy loads and enabling a single operator to move the heaviest loads, tuggers lead to higher overall productivity.