Innovation to improve the quality of working life for RATP Group staff

RATP Group is committed to fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities by improving the quality of working life for its staff and preventing occupational risks.

The company is improving the quality of working life for staff by reducing musculoskeletal strain caused by their profession through the deployment of exoskeletons across the company. This project is part of the NTAP (New technologies for physical assistance) programme, launched in 2021. In addition, several innovations were deployed to improve the quality of working life for staff such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and connected individual protection equipment (EPI).

As part of the programme, the working conditions in maintenance workshops were assessed and the report indicated that three activities were behind most ergonomic issues experienced by workshop staff:

  • door maintenance operations (raised arms);
  • underbody operations (raised arms);
  • roofing operations (crouching position).

A passive exoskeleton to relieve workers’ strain during roof maintenance operations

A form of technology was developed specifically to improve the quality of working life for staff involved in roofing activities. To achieve this, a passive exoskeleton was trialled in the four tram maintenance workshops with the aim to help staff members reduce the strain on their muscles and reduce the amount of energy expended.
This presents many benefits with regard to the quality of working life and staff health.

The goal is to eventually deploy the exoskeletons across the tram network and to roofing operations on the metro and RER network.

Other initiatives were implemented in the company such as:

  • The “raised arms” exoskeleton funded by Île-de-France Mobilités was largely deployed to RER and tram maintenance sites;
  • The exoskeleton backpack, developed by Gravipack, to alleviate the weight carried by staff in charge of infrastructure monitoring who walk along tracks;
  • Initiatives are currently under study to provide station staff with posture-correction vests.

Learn about other examples of RATP Group’s CSR commitments