Introduction of Strength-Enhancing Wearable Equipment
for the Safety of Sanitation Workers
Guro District (District Mayor Jang Inhong) announced that it will provide "wearable robotic exoskeletons" to sanitation workers working at local cleaning sites in order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and improve work efficiency.
This initiative was established to reduce the physical burden on sanitation workers who perform cleaning tasks in areas densely populated with villas and multi-family housing.
Due to the characteristics of Guro District, sanitation workers often have to move through narrow alleys or stairs when collecting garbage. As a result, carrying heavy garbage bags places continuous strain on their knees and ankles.
Recently, the prohibition of riding on the rear platform of cleaning vehicles has led to a sharp increase in walking distances for sanitation workers, further increasing their physical burden.
In response, the district has introduced wearable robots in the form of "wearable exoskeletons" and began a pilot operation this month.
The wearable exoskeleton is a device worn around the body like a belt, designed to reduce the amount of force workers need to exert during tasks.
The newly introduced strength-enhancing wearable exoskeleton weighs only 1.6 kg and analyzes the wearer’s gait in real time to reduce the burden placed on the knees and lower body.
Additionally, when carrying a backpack weighing about 20 kg and walking on flat ground, the device effectively reduces the actual load by approximately 12 kg.
The district plans to introduce the wearable equipment on a trial basis to a portion of both directly employed and subcontracted sanitation workers, and will conduct a survey (monitoring) to assess comfort, safety, and fatigue improvement. Based on the results of this survey (monitoring), the district intends to gradually expand distribution to all sanitation workers.
Jang Inhong, Mayor of Guro District, stated, "The introduction of strength-enhancing wearable exoskeletons is expected to go beyond simply providing equipment and will greatly help protect the health of sanitation workers and prevent accidents," adding, "We will continue to develop and implement various policies to improve the safety and welfare of sanitation workers."
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