How ergonomic is your warehouse job? Soon, an app might be able to tell you

Musculoskeletal disorders happen at work when people use awkward postures or do repeated tasks. These behaviors generate strain on the body over time. So it's important to point out and minimize risky behaviors to keep workers healthy on the job.

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new system that can observe the physical movements of factory or warehouse workers. The algorithm can identify risky activities — such as lifting a box off a high shelf - in real time.

Now the team is developing an app that factory workers and supervisors can use to monitor the ergonomic risks of their daily actions. The app will provide warnings for moderately risky actions and alerts for high-risk actions.

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