Airport baggage handlers lift an average of five tons of baggage per day, often performing lifts in awkward positions inside an aircraft’s underfloor baggage compartment. With its commitment to set the industry benchmark in workers’ health and safety, Swissport continuously explores new ways to further improve the work conditions of its some 30,000 ramp and baggage handlers worldwide. With a group of ground handling staff and Auxivo, Swissport has been developing the LiftSuit over the past year. The initiative is part of a global innovation program which was launched two years ago. Auxivo develops wearable exoskeletons that support and protect workers during physically demanding jobs. Their products reduce the stress and strain workers are experiencing to ensure their wellbeing. Auxivo is currently a research project at ETH Zurich. The team plans to spin-off a company later this year. Several prototypes have been tested in realistic conditions at multiple Swissport locations to maximize the effectiveness and comfort of the LiftSuit. Elastic elements allow the LiftSuit to store energy when a worker bends down. The energy is then released to support the workers when they pull the load back up. Laboratory results have shown that different muscle groups of a worker will experience a reduced activity of 10-30%, while wearing the LiftSuit. This leads to decreased muscle fatigue, which again decreases the risk of injury. Alexandre Bolay, Vice President Global Quality, Health & Safety at Swissport International: “Injuries that occur during manual handling of heavy objects are a major concern for us. We are very pleased with the results of the new gear and the IATA recognition of Swissport as an industry leader in employee well-being. The LiftSuit is a fairly simple, yet effective way to support and protect our workers.” (Press release - SK)Picture: Swissport