Page 103 - Occupational Health & Safety, July/August 2019

The Economics of Ergonomics
Ergonomic assembly tools are designed to reduce MSDs and injuries that can occur over time through repeated exposure to various risk factors such as contact stress, force, repetition, posture, vibration, and environmental exposure to noise, lighting, and temperature.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of the U.S. Depart- ment of Labor, measures and evaluates working conditions. BLS reported that for all 2015 cases involving days away from work, about 356,000, or 31 percent, were the result of repetitive motion or overexertion. The study also reported that over the course of one year, MSDs required a median of 12 days to recuperate before the individuals returned to work.2
According to OSHA, U.S. employers spend almost $1 billion per week on direct and indirect workers’ compensation costs asso- ciated with injuries and illnesses experienced by their employees.3 The agency estimates as much as one-third of these costs are due to MSDs.4 Many of these illnesses and injuries are related to repetitive stress or sustained exertion on the body.
There will always be risk factors associated with manufactur- ing work. However, the key is keeping risks at acceptable levels and to not exceed those levels. To that end, tool ergonomics is really about controlling risk factors through innovative design techniques and materials.
It is important to match the correct tool with the application and is equally important to have proper ergonomic positioning and appropriate tool accessories to avoid injuries such as muscle strain, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel.
Excessive tool vibration can decrease blood flow, damage nerves, and cause muscle fatigue. There are many factors that in- fluence tool ergonomic performance. Matching the tool with the variances in hand size requires different tool sizing. To compensate for this difference, many tool companies provide various sizing components or built-in adjustability.
Operators should use the right tool configuration for the right type of work. For example, an operator applies different speeds through different layers of materials. The Q2 Screw- driver has a torque range that can be manually adjusted with a pin on the tool to set different torque levels based on the speed needed for different tasks.
Tool Ergonomics Eases the Pain
Assembly tools are in constant use every day. Companies need tools that their operators can use all day without ending their shift with muscle fatigue and pain. They need tools with reduced trigger force per finger, improved grip comfort, and lower overall muscle effort. They require tools that are well-fitted to the hand, have ex- cellent torque reaction, and are well-balanced.
With proper ergonomic features, using these tools will ease fa- tigue from repetitive motion that causes hand and arm stress. Tool ergonomics can improve worker productivity while minimizing medical costs and workers’ compensation claims.
It’s important to have a system for assessing the ergonomics of a product’s design. A well-defined ergonomics program helps companies better understand a product’s features, the benefits de-
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