Ergonomic Evaluation of Two Different Locations of the Scales in a Supermarket Checkout System

The aim of this pilot study was to ergonomically evaluate the effect of the location of the scales in a supermarket checkout system. A location of the scales to the left of the cashier was compared with a location under the conveyor belt. Two cashiers were videotaped while working with the two scale locations, in both sitting and standing working postures. Analysis of the video tapes was performed using the WOPALAS method, the VIRA method, and by noting certain positions of the left arm. The left wrist movements were registered by a two-dimensional goniometer. The results indicate that the location under the conveyor belt is somewhat more ergonomically favourable. The improvement is more pronounced for the cashier with a greater reach.