Easy Ergonomics: A Guide to Selecting Non-Powered Hand Tools

摘要

The purpose of this booklet is to help you select or purchase the best available ergonomically designed non-powered hand tool. The information and the hand tool checklist are based on peer-reviewed articles and expert input. The checklist has been evaluated for reliability in identifying the presence or absence of basic ergonomic design features. The right tool will help you reduce your risk of injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or muscle strain. This booklet covers most ergonomic features that should be considered when selecting or purchasing hand tools, but does not cover all features. Specifically, it does not address tool weight, tool balance, vibration or tool maintenance. The purpose of this document is to demystify the process and help employers and workers identify non-powered hand 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. Presented here are the ergonomic basics of hand tool use. These principles are meant to complement the ordinary process of deciding on what tool to select by knowing how it is used and the task to which it will be applied.