From new regulations to solutions for working at height: how the approach to prevention and operational planning is changing

Amazon closes out another year with improving indicators in workplace safety, and it does so by asserting an increasingly structured approach, where innovation and technology are established (and intertwined) as central levers. In 2025, in particular, the group reports a 43 percent reduction in recordable injuries compared to 2019 and a 70 percent reduction in the most serious ones, accompanied by over $2,5 billion invested in safety, including technological solutions, training programs, and ergonomic interventionsThis last point is where an increasingly decisive match continues to be played.

Ergonomics is in fact a fundamental design component that intervenes upstream, reducing efforts, repetitive movements, biomechanical overloads and incorrect postures, among the main causes of injury in operational contextsIt's no surprise that this approach is now being concretely reflected in regulatory developments, with updated standards explicitly integrating these principles into the design of work systems. This opens up a much broader scenario, in which safety no longer depends solely on controls and devices but also on the ability to rethink work itself.

This shift has led to the introduction of new solutions designed to concretely improve operating conditions, even in the most complex contexts, such as working at height, where stability and fatigue reduction become crucial factors. This is also demonstrated by HirundoSafe, a device that translates ergonomic principles into concrete applications by directly intervening on working methods.

Preventing it before it happens: Amazon's (and others') security strategy

Amazon attributes a significant part of these results to the integration of ergonomics into processes and operational design.

“One of the key elements to continuously improve safety year after year is our 'Prevention through Design' approach,”

explains Sarah Rhoads, Vice President of Global Workplace Health and Safety, emphasized that the goal is to address risks before they even arise. In this context, engineers collaborate directly with certified ergonomists during the design phases of systems and equipment, using simulations and models to define safer workflows and workstations.

The focus is thus on musculoskeletal disorders, which account for more than half of the injuries recorded. These are problems related to repetitive movements, poor posture, or excessive strain, which the company addresses by reducing the physical component of work through: targeted interventions and supporting technologies.

“Addressing MSDs means reducing repetitive movements and strenuous physical exertion,”

it is read, which is why robotic systems and assistive solutions have been introduced that can lighten the most burdensome tasks.

As mentioned, since 2019 Amazon has invested over $2,5 billion in security, including technological innovations, training programs and ergonomic improvements, with a clear underlying principle:

“The safest workplace is one where risks are eliminated by design.”

The importance of designing work around human capabilities and limitations

The fact that ergonomics is an increasingly central criterion in work design is also confirmed by the same reference standardsISO 9241-5:2024, published in 2024 and implemented in Europe as EN ISO 9241-5:2024, defines guiding ergonomic principles for user requirements, design, and selection of workstation equipment with interactive systems and displays, with a specific focus on layout and postural requirements. The new edition also replaced previous versions, signaling a concrete update to the regulatory approach.

The point, however, goes beyond a single standard. The ISO 9241 family of standards concerns the ergonomics of human-system interaction, while ISO 26800 establishes general principles applicable to the design and evaluation of activities, tools, systems, organizations, and work environments.

The Italian framework is also moving in the same direction. Article 15 of Legislative Decree 81/2008 expressly calls for compliance with ergonomic principles in work organization, workstation design, equipment selection, and the definition of work and production methods.

From warehouses to construction sites, solutions that reduce effort

Outside of the norms, the same ones give concreteness to ergonomics design innovations which transform it from a theoretical principle to a real operational lever, showing how it is now an ex ante design criterion and no longer an a posteriori verification.

Amazon, among its initiatives to support safety improvements, cites solutions such as height-adjustable tables, designed to allow employees to reach items at more comfortable working heights, reducing poor posture and unnecessary strain. These initiatives are clearly accompanied by investments in training and internal safety skills development, demonstrating an approach that integrates design and organization.

At the same time—given that musculoskeletal disorders are extremely common in the workplace and represent a leading cause of absenteeism and occupational diseases in Europe and Italy—the industrial sector is introducing wearable exoskeletons, developed by companies such as Ottobock and German Bionic, capable of supporting the back and upper limbs during the most strenuous activities, reducing biomechanical load and muscle fatigue. One hundred percent Italian is instead HirundoSafe di Trentino Security, a solution for rope access work that acts directly on the working position, improving stability and operational comfort and reducing physical effort at height.

Hirundo Safe, a new approach for all work at height

HirundoSafe was born from a concrete and often overlooked need in work at height: working safely under eaves, where the presence of gutters makes the use of traditional solutions difficult and increases exposure to risk. In these contexts, rope access requires precision and physical endurance, conditions that are difficult to maintain over time. without adequate operational support.

The device developed by Trentino Sicurezza therefore introduces a different approach, offering a stable platform that allows the operator to work standing or sitting, reducing fatigue and improving blood circulationThe structure, designed to support up to 150 kg, maintains compact dimensions – weighing less than 30 kg – but guarantees a functional work surface, with dedicated internal and external platforms.

From a technical point of view, HirundoSafe is adjustable in height between 2,16 and 1,88 metres and must be used in combination with anchoring systems certified according to the EN 795 or EN 517 standards, an element that integrates its safety within a compliant system. ergonomic design It also allows you to operate while maintaining an adequate distance from the gutters, avoiding contact and possible damage.

The effect is twofold: on the one hand, it eliminates the need for scaffolding or lifting platforms in many situations, on the other we intervene directly on working conditions, reducing physical effort and improving the quality of intervention in activities such as maintenance, restoration and installation of coverings.

A device designed to ensure safety and comfort in rope access operations

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