Trade Show Study:

ServerLIFT^® Corporation conducted an anonymous study at a large tech trade show to examine data center trends in 2013. As we continue to analyze this data, our findings uncover areas of efficiency and safety gains.

Respondents participated in a questionnaire consisting of six questions related to their data centers. The participants were not asked for any personal information to encourage honesty and minimize bias, so we could offer the most accurate data center trends analysis .

Data Center Trends Results:

ServerLIFT^® compared the method of moving apparecchiature per data center used to the average weight of rack-mounted equipment being installed to evaluate the safety of respondents’ data centers.

Out of 249 respondents:

• 225, or 90.3%, were installing rack-mounted equipment weighing more than 50 lbs.

Out of these 225 respondents:

• 86.1% still manual lifting to move and install rack-mounted equipment
• 7.87% were benefiting from a ServerLIFT^® to move and install rack-mounted equipment
• 6.02% were struggling with a generic warehouse lift to move and install rack-mounted equipment

Safety Concerns According to OSHA:

A Technical Lifting Manual published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends using “mechanical means to avoid injury when lifting equipment heavier than 50 lbs.” According to OSHA, “manual materials handling is the principle source of compensable injury in the American work force”. Four out of five of these injuries affect the lower back with most back injuries occurring as direct result of “improper lifting techniques and lifting loads that are too heavy for the back to support”.

Costs Associated with Injuries:

In 2009, the workman’s compensation costs caused by overexertion resulting from excessive lifting, pushing, pulling or carrying totaled $12.75 billion, or 25.4% of the entire annual cost burden. In 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that back injuries accounted for 14.5% of all work-related injuries and required, on average, a median of 7 days recuperation.