Wendel equips its logistics platform with exoskeletons to limit the arduousness of its employees' work

A true scourge, musculoskeletal disorders are particularly common in all professions in the construction sector and remain to this day the leading cause of occupational illness. The main risk factors for pain among warehouse workers are repetitive movements, handling heavy loads, prolonged standing and poor posture. Concerned about the arduousness of its employees' work, the Wendel group invested in a lifting clamp on its Samazan logistics platform in 2017 so that warehouse operators can move packages of tiles effortlessly.

At the end of 2023, Wendel wanted to go further by offering its employees, whose average age is 40 years old, the opportunity to test 4 different exoskeleton models, 3 passive and 1 active, so that everyone can choose, or not, the one which best met his expectations. By involving them, Valérie Zago, Director of the platform, wanted to get them to buy into the company's approach. “ It seemed essential to me that this choice be made on a voluntary basis. The way of working is completely changed by the exoskeleton. It requires you to readjust your postures but also to put in place a certain number of automations such as deactivating it to get on the forklift, then reactivating it once you get off it. To gain full support, the teams had to feel included in the selection process and see the benefit, especially since the cost is not insignificant, between 1500 and 3000 euros excluding tax per exoskeleton, and that we do not benefit from assistance or subsidies for this type of purchase! »

The essay is partly transformed. The platform is now equipped with two passive exoskeletons selected for their ergonomic design, their low weight and bulk, and their ease of activation and deactivation. As Benoît, 47, a warehouse operator in the tiling sector of the logistics platform for 9 years, explains: “ the exoskeleton supporting the knees, I save on bending and it brings me real comfort. I have less back pain, especially my lower back, at the end of the week. As I got older, I feared the physical arduousness of my work. Now, I am more reassured even if using such protective equipment requires adopting new work habits and new automatisms. This makes us completely rethink our posture and gestures ».

Other employees are still a little reluctant, like Adrien, 24, a warehouse operator in the e-commerce section: “ I struggle to see the benefit in it. I am young and sporty. At the moment, I have no pain related to the effort of my work. However, as my colleagues are doing everything to convince me to wear it, I am going to do a 15-day trial.»

In 2024, Wendel is supporting this change management with “Gestures and postures” training to encourage new employees to adopt these exoskeletons and improve their comfort and safety at work.