A Guide to Selecting

Non-Powered Hand Tools

Ergonomics Design Guidelines

to prevent WMSDs
 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
 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:
– A. Know your job

– B. Look at your work space

– C. Improve your work posture

– D. Review the “Tips for Selecting Hand Tools” and then

Select the Tool.
 Importance

“Non-powered hand tools are widely

used in a variety of industries including
construction, manufacturing and
agriculture.”
 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.”
 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.”
 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
 WMSD hazardous exposures

Awkward postures
Postures that
strain the neck,
shoulders, elbows,
wrists or back.

Also, bending,
stooping, twisting
and reaching.
 WMSD hazardous exposures

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

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

Think about the

job you will be
doing.

Tools are designed

for specific
purposes
 A. Know your job

Cutting, pinching
gripping tools:
– pliers
– snips
– cutters
 A. Know your job

Striking tools
– Hammers
– Mallets
 A. Know your job

Driving tools
– Screwdrivers
– Hand wrenches
– Nut drivers
– T-handle wrenches
 A. Know your job

Struck or
hammered tools
– Punches
– Chisels
– Nail sets
 A. Know your job

For POWER tasks

consider:
– Single-handle
tools with a
handle diameter
1 ¼ inches to 2
inches
 A. Know your job

For POWER tasks

consider:
– OPEN GRIP SPAN
not more than
3 ½ inches
– CLOSED GRIP
SPAN not less
than 2 inches
 A. Know your job

For PRECISION
tasks consider:
– Single-handle
tools with handle
diameter ¼ to ½
inch.
 A. Know your job

For PRECISION
tasks consider:
– OPEN GRIP SPAN
not more than
3 inches
– CLOSED GRIP
SPAN not less
than 1 inch
 B. Look at your work space

Awkward postures
may cause you to
use more force.

Select a tool that

can be used within
the space available
 B. Look at your work space

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.
 C. Improve your work posture

Awkward body
postures make
more demands on
your body
 C. Improve your work posture

The placement of the

work piece will affect
your postures in the:
– Shoulder
– Elbow
– Wrist
– Hand
– Back
 C. Improve your work posture

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.
 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.
 C. Select the tool

Single-handle tools
for POWER tasks:
1.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
 C. Select the tool

Single-handle tools
for PRECISION
tasks:
2.Tool must feel
comfortable with a
handle diameter ¼
inch to ½ inch.
 C. Select the tool

Double-handle
tools (pliers-like)
for POWER tasks:
3.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
 C. Select the tool

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

Double-handled
pinching, gripping
or cutting tools:
5.Handles spring-
loaded to return
the handles to the
open position.
 C. Select the tool

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

7. 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.
 C. Select the tool

8. 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)
 C. Select the tool

8. 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.
 C. Select the tool

9. Select a tool
that can be
used with your
dominant hand
or with either
hand.
 C. Select the tool

For HIGH FORCE

tasks:
10.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.
 C. Select the tool

11.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.
 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.
 Not following these guidelines may result in
one or more of these symptoms:

• Tingling • Continual muscle

• Swelling in the joints
• Decreased ability to
move
• Decreased grip
strength
• Pain from movement,
pressure or exposure
to cold or vibration
fatigue
• Sore muscles
• Numbness
• Change in the skin
color of your hands
and fingertips
 The Ergonomics Cycle

The ergonomics cycle Management

Support
Employee
Involvement
provides with an
organized way to Evaluate Problem
progress Identification
start YOUR
ergonomics effort at
a store. Training
Solution
Implementation
Address
Injuries
 The Ergonomics Cycle

Management Employee
Support Involvement

Evaluate Problem
progress Identification

Solution
Training
Implementation
Address
Injuries
 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 at:

www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/Ergonomics

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@LNI.WA.GOV
Thank you