NIOSH Mining Safety Idea

Ideas to Reduce Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders


Kneepad Seat


Old Way:To perform tasks such as operating a continuous mining machine, miners often work in a kneeling position. This can lead to excessive force on knees and ankles due to their body weight.
New Way:A kneepad seat allows workers to rest the body weight on the seat, thus removing some weight from the knees and ankles. Note that the workplace should be analyzed before introducing the kneepads to ensure there is no risk of them getting caught in moving machinery.

Miner kneeling  Miner using a kneepad seat
Old Way New Way
Page last updated: 9/17/2008
Page last reviewed: 5/28/2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Division