Osttirol company installs standing aid to help people with disabilities work

The social economy company Schindel und Holz in Osttirol, Austria, installed a new standing and movement aid to help people with physical disabilities work.

The system, called Standing Ovation, allows workers to sit while their legs are supported, leaving their hands free to perform tasks. The company developed the technology based on a design by Peter Lammer, a Salzburg gastonomist who could no longer work without assistance following a traffic accident.

The system consists of a rail system with an ergonomically shaped bracket and a saddle support. It allows users to move along the rail or perform therapeutic exercises while their legs are relieved of weight. The company says the system can relieve the legs by up to 100 percent depending on the settings. The current installation covers an area of about 30 square meters and accommodates two workstations. The company can expand the setup to include up to four workstations.

Schindel und Holz says the equipment helps workers in production roles who face heavy physical demands and helps them learn to use assistive devices. The company funded the 40,000 euro investment in cooperation with AMS Tirol, an Austrian public employment service. The company says the new workspace helps people with physical impairments learn to use the aid, expand their range of potential activities, and see that they can remain in the workforce despite physical challenges.