A Guide to Selecting Non-Powered Hand Tools

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A Guide to Selecting Non-Powered Hand Tools

• Ergonomics Design Guidelines to prevent WMSDs

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Credits

• The technical contents of this slide show are
  based upon the publication Easy Ergonomics A
  Guide to Selecting Non-Powered Hand Tools
  Cal/OSHA and DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2004-164.

You may click here to download a copy of this
publication
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What YOU will learn in this slideshow

• Select or purchase the best available
  ergonomically designed non-powered hand tool.
• Follow 4 Steps to help you in selecting/purchasing
  a better hand tool
• Know your job
• Look at your work space
• Improve your work posture
• Review the Tips for Selecting Hand Tools
  and then Select the Tool.

A.
B.
C.
D.
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Importance

• Non-powered hand tools are widely used in a
  variety of industries including construction,
  manufacturing and agriculture.

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Importance

• To the untrained eye it may be difficult to
  evaluate tools from an ergonomics point of view.
• The purpose of this slideshow is to help
  employers and workers identify non-powered tools
  that are less likely to cause injury those that
  can be used effectively with less force, less
  repeated movement and less awkward positioning of
  the body and body parts.

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Problem?

• A large number of injuries known as
  musculoskeletal disorders are attributable to
  hand tool use in occupational settings, resulting
  in unnecessary suffering, lost workdays and
  economic costs.

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The best tool is one that

• Fits the job you are doing
• Fits the work space available
• Reduces the force you need to apply
• Fits your hand
• Can be used in a comfortable work position
• It is safe in all aspects

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WMSD hazardous exposures

• Awkward postures
• Postures that strain the neck, shoulders, elbows,
  wrists or back.
• Also, bending, stooping, twisting and reaching.

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WMSD hazardous exposures

• Contact pressure
• Pressure from a hard surface, point, or edge on
  any part of the body.

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WMSD hazardous exposures

• Power Grip
• The hand grip that provides maximum hand power
  for high force tasks. All the fingers wrap around
  the handle.

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WMSD hazardous exposures

• Pinch Grip
• The hand grip that provides control for precision
  and accuracy. The tool is gripped between the
  thumb and the fingertips.

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Know your job
A.

• Think about the job you will be doing.
• Tools are designed for specific purposes

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Know your job
A.

• Cutting, pinching gripping tools
• pliers
• snips
• cutters

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Know your job
A.

• Striking tools
• Hammers
• Mallets

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Know your job
A.

• Driving tools
• Screwdrivers
• Hand wrenches
• Nut drivers
• T-handle wrenches

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Know your job
A.

• Struck or hammered tools
• Punches
• Chisels
• Nail sets

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Know your job
A.

• For POWER tasks consider
• Single-handle tools with a handle diameter 1 ¼
  inches to 2 inches

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Know your job
A.

• For POWER tasks consider
• OPEN GRIP SPAN not more than 3 ½ inches
• CLOSED GRIP SPAN not less than 2 inches

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Know your job
A.

• For PRECISION tasks consider
• Single-handle tools with handle diameter ¼ to ½
  inch.

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Know your job
A.

• For PRECISION tasks consider
• OPEN GRIP SPAN not more than 3 inches
• CLOSED GRIP SPAN not less than 1 inch

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Look at your work space
B.

• Awkward postures may cause you to use more force.
• Select a tool that can be used within the space
  available

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Look at your work space
B.

• Awkward postures may cause you to use more force.
• If you work in a cramped space it is better to
  use a shorter tool that fits within the work
  space.

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Improve your work posture
C.

• Awkward body postures make more demands on your
  body

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Improve your work posture
C.

• The placement of the work piece will affect your
  postures in the
• Shoulder
• Elbow
• Wrist
• Hand
• Back

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Improve your work posture
C.

• Choose a tool that requires less continuous force
  and awkward postures.
• The right tool will not cause pain and fatigue,
  because your body parts will be relaxed.

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Design guidelines

• These guidelines were developed by Cal/OSHA and
  DHHS-NIOSH.
• The more guidelines you apply to hand tool
  selection, the safer and healthier for you and
  your employees.

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Select the tool
C.

• Single-handle tools for POWER tasks
• Tool must feel comfortable with a handle diameter
  1 ¼ inches to 2 inches.

You may increase the diameter by adding a sleeve
to the handle
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Select the tool
C.

• Single-handle tools for PRECISION tasks
• Tool must feel comfortable with a handle diameter
  ¼ inch to ½ inch.

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Select the tool
C.

• Double-handle tools (pliers-like) for POWER
  tasks
• Tool with a grip span at least 2 inches when
  fully closed and no more than 3 ½ inches when
  fully open.

When continuous force is required, consider using
a clamp, a grip or locking
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Select the tool
C.

• Double-handle tools (pliers-like) for PRECISION
  tasks
• Tool with a grip span that is not less than 1
  inch when fully closed and no more than 3 inches
  when fully open.

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Select the tool
C.

• Double-handled pinching, gripping or cutting
  tools
• Handles spring-loaded to return the handles to
  the open position.

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Select the tool
C.

1. Select a tool without sharp edges or finger
   grooves on the handle.

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Select the tool
C.

1. Select a tool that is coated with soft material.

Adding a sleeve to the tool handle pads the
surface but also increases the diameter of the
grip span of the handle.
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Select the tool
C.

1. Select a tool with an angle that allows you to
   work with a straight wrist.

Tools with bent handles are better when the force
is applied horizontally (same direction as your
straight forearm and wrist)
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Select the tool
C.

1. Select a tool with an angle that allows you to
   work with a straight wrist.

Tools with straight handles are better when the
force is applied vertically.
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Select the tool
C.

1. Select a tool that can be used with your dominant
   hand or with either hand.

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Select the tool
C.

• For HIGH FORCE tasks
• Select a tool with a handle length longer than
  the widest part of your hand usually 4 inches
  to 6 inches

Make sure the end of the handle does not press on
the palm of your hand.
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Select the tool
C.

1. Select a tool with handles that have a non-slip
   surface for a better grip.

Adding a sleeve improves the surface texture of
the handle. Make the sleeve fit snugly during use.
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The Checklist

• Use BOTH sides of the checklist to compare
  similar tools. For example if you have two pliers
  and want to select the best of the two, compare
  each tool against the features on the checklist.
  The more Yes answers the tool has, the better
  the tool.

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Not following these guidelines may result in one
or more of these symptoms

• Tingling
• Swelling in the joints
• Decreased ability to move
• Decreased grip strength
• Pain from movement, pressure or exposure to cold
  or vibration

• Continual muscle fatigue
• Sore muscles
• Numbness
• Change in the skin color of your hands and
  fingertips

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The Ergonomics Cycle

• The ergonomics cycle provides with an organized
  way to start YOUR ergonomics effort at a store.

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The Ergonomics Cycle
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More resources

• Easy Ergonomics A Guide to Selecting Non-Powered
  Hand Tools
• Easy Ergonomics. A practical approach for
  improving the workplace
• www.cbs.state.or.us/osha/pdf/pubs/3347.pdf
• On WMSD hazardous exposures visit the WISHA
  webpage atwww.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/Ergonomic
  s
• Example accident prevention program
• www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Basics/Programs/Accident
• Ideas to reduce hazardous exposures can be found
  at the Ergonomics Ideas Bank
• You may also write us at
• ergonomics_at_LNI.WA.GOV

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Thank you