How vacuum design helps prevent user injury

This is Lisa Ridgely, deputy editor of Contracting Profits magazine, and today’s CleanLink Minute focuses on ergonomics in vacuum design.

To use an average corded vacuum cleaner, a user must go through many steps using hands, arms, legs and back, from plugging it in to operating it to preparing it for storage. Ergonomic design is intended to make users more comfortable and efficient by reducing or eliminating repetitive or stressful movements.

Ergonomic advances allow for adjustments of key machine components — such as handle design and height — but also are generally easier to maneuver and use, thanks to lighter machines and helpful wands. To further reduce injuries, users should also be trained how to properly operate the machines, including bending at the knees, not the back, or using a backpack vacuum with attachments for certain applications.