Guidelines for ergonomic hand tool selection

“Ergonomically enhanced tools can include helpful features like angled handles, padded hand grips, and nonslip coatings,” says Paul Holstein, COO of CableOrganizer.com. “Whether you’re shopping for ergonomic tools or just trying to select the right one for the job from an existing collection, the key things to consider are whether or not the tool fits your hand, how well it suits the job being done, and whether or not it eases your work and prevents you from straining in ways that could lead to injury.”

Here are some tips for choosing the right ergonomic hand tool:
• Avoid using tools whose handles have built-in finger grooves. Because finger size and placement differs from person to person, when fingers don’t naturally align with grooves, pressure from the groove edges can cause discomfort and injury.
• Choose tools with cushioned handles that are covered in a soft material like foam or flexible plastic. Aside from providing comfort during long hours of use, they provide a much firmer grip and cut down on slippage. Tools with hard handles can be inexpensively and quickly converted by adding a cushioned sleeve.
• Only use tools that allow you to work with your wrists in a straight position.
• For double-handed gripping and cutting tools, select options with spring-loaded handles that automatically return to the open position.
• When objects require forceful pinching or gripping for an extended amount of time, prevent muscle strain by switching from standard pliers to a clamp or grip.
• Choose single-handle tools for tasks that require force (such as torquing screws and nuts, hammering, and chiseling) with handle diameters ranging from 1.25-2 inches. Larger handles allow fingers to wrap comfortably around the tool to reduce stress or impact on hands, fingers, and wrists and prevent slippage.
• For tasks requiring more precision and delicacy (like driving miniature screws and fine chiseling), choose single-handle tools with diameters in the 0.25-0.5-inch range. This gives a comfortable grip between the fingertips without overexerting fingers, knuckle joints, or hand muscles.
• When choosing double-handled tools for tasks requiring more force, look for a maximum open grip span of 3.5 inches and a closed grip span of no less than 2 inches across.
• For detailed jobs involving grasping small parts, choose a double-handle tool with a grip span of no less than 1 inch closed to no more than 3 inches open.
• It is important to avoid the awkward postures and wrist positions of using tools that are too long, so choose short-handled tools that allow for direct access to the work area while still keeping your wrist straight.
• To avoid damaging the pressure-sensitive nerves and blood vessels in the palms of the hands, the handles of tools should be long enough so the ends won’t press into the palms. As long as the tool’s handle is longer than the widest part of your hand, it is safe to use.—[email protected]