I'm preparing a presentation on ergonomic issues faced by electricians. Many of our crew are young and don't uderstand how to help preserve their body. I want to focus on knees and wrists with a little on neck and back. Does anyone know of a good source for practical ergonomic tools that reduce the stress on knees and wrists? I would like to have some of these tools available for them to examine and try. Any helpful hints to pass on that were not mentioned in a past thread?
Ergonomics and Electricians
- Thread starter maryl
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barbeer
Senior Member
- Location
- Pinellas County, FL
Go into another field!:grin:
I do however like these
boater bill
Senior Member
- Location
- Cape Coral, Fl.
I really love using the ergonomic strippers barbeer posted. Everytime I loaned them out at the site, comments were nothing but positive.
One thing for the young guys, if the mule doesn't pull the cable through, don't expect your arms and shoulders to do any better!!!
One thing for the young guys, if the mule doesn't pull the cable through, don't expect your arms and shoulders to do any better!!!
zbang
Senior Member
- Location
- Roughly 5346 miles from Earls Court
maryl said:
Well, the power screwdriver is one of the best inventions in know of. You can get it at Big Orange (or Blue, or Green
). I owe most of the problems in my right wrist to doing something like 150 molly bolts by hand in one evening 25+ years ago (telco backfield install on drywall). Didn't have power anything then.
Bulldog1401
Member
The ratcheting screwdriver from Ideal that has an end for wirenuts is a wrist saver. It increases your leverage and also speeds the work.
TOOL_5150
Senior Member
- Location
- bay area, ca
boater bill said:
Ill second that - The curved handled strippers are way better. I have many hundreds of dollars in klein tools, but I still prefer ideal strippers.
~Matt
kkwong
Senior Member
- Location
- Sac, CA (I think)
TOOL_5150 said:
Matt- I completely agree. I have a set of Ideal Reflex strippers and love them. I have used the Klein Curve (or is it Kurve?
) and found they were a little too bulky to get in to small areas with them; the Greenlee's are the same way. The other thing I like about the Ideals is the spring, it seats so much nicer. :grin:bkludecke
Senior Member
- Location
- Big Bear Lake, CA
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
The best ergonomic tool for electricians is the grey matter between the ears. All the fancy tools and backbraces etc, won't protect you nearly as well as learning good safe working techniques and practices.
Younger guys seem to think they are superman and will never wear out. I've had carpal tunnel releases done on both wrists, my back is about half shot and my neck is not much better. It's too late for me but you young guys please take note; once you screw up your bodyparts you'll regret it forever.
Keep your body fit, don't smoke, eat reasonably, drink moderately and take frequent breaks to strech and move.
Younger guys seem to think they are superman and will never wear out. I've had carpal tunnel releases done on both wrists, my back is about half shot and my neck is not much better. It's too late for me but you young guys please take note; once you screw up your bodyparts you'll regret it forever.
Keep your body fit, don't smoke, eat reasonably, drink moderately and take frequent breaks to strech and move.
If it causes discomfort it's time to change how you are doing things.
I do evals and the most important think to instruct staff is that if you are having any pain or discomfort while performing your job tasks to say something so it can be addressed and alternatives can be looked at. most individuals will try and be a hero and work through the pain. Over time it will cause damage.
Most ergonomic issues can be dealt with right away. If the individual wait it can cause more damage and will take longer to heal.
When performing repetitive tasks the individual shold take min-breaks (1-2 minutes) every twenty to thirty muntes to relax, stretch, take a short walk, etc.
I give out stretches to my staff that covers head to toe. But I also instruct them that if they have any preexisting conditions that they should review them with their doctor first as we do not want to aggravate anything that is ongoing.
It is the nature of the job to have to twist and pull. There are many tools out there that can help reduce this as you can see from the posts. The OSHA web Site has a whole area on works and ergonomics. It may not be your specific job but most activities are universal.
I do about 80 ergo evals a year from office staff, corrections, to highway crews, etc..
ANother problem is managers that do not allow any breaks or staff that works through their breaks. It is important to take the breaks and it will actually make your works more productive.
I do evals and the most important think to instruct staff is that if you are having any pain or discomfort while performing your job tasks to say something so it can be addressed and alternatives can be looked at. most individuals will try and be a hero and work through the pain. Over time it will cause damage.
Most ergonomic issues can be dealt with right away. If the individual wait it can cause more damage and will take longer to heal.
When performing repetitive tasks the individual shold take min-breaks (1-2 minutes) every twenty to thirty muntes to relax, stretch, take a short walk, etc.
I give out stretches to my staff that covers head to toe. But I also instruct them that if they have any preexisting conditions that they should review them with their doctor first as we do not want to aggravate anything that is ongoing.
It is the nature of the job to have to twist and pull. There are many tools out there that can help reduce this as you can see from the posts. The OSHA web Site has a whole area on works and ergonomics. It may not be your specific job but most activities are universal.
I do about 80 ergo evals a year from office staff, corrections, to highway crews, etc..
ANother problem is managers that do not allow any breaks or staff that works through their breaks. It is important to take the breaks and it will actually make your works more productive.
I'd like to thank you all for your help. You've given me some great ideas for tools to have on display. I found one first year apprentice on a job site who had a set of 6-in-one screw drivers but had no idea that the open end was for twisting on wire nuts - I'll get some of those too. I've still got some time so if you think of some other great tools, let me know.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
The best tool my boss ever gave me was young helper. No more crawl spaces or attics and pointing where the ditch goes was way easier than actually digging it. :grin:
Mister Kool
Member
cowboyjwc said:
LMAOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
sparky_magoo
Senior Member
- Location
- Reno
barbeer said:Go into another field!:grin:
I do however like these
I use those to. However, I tear out the spring and remove the lock "thingie" I tworks much better for me. I have pretty bad arthritis.
Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
What I think could be a great tool for teaching young guys is the "old" guys. Let a couple of the older guys speak to the young guys. We all thought we were superman when younger, and that we would never end up like some of the older guys who hobble around or just cannot really do what they could when younger. See if you can get pictures of some of the older guys from their prime. This way the young guys may be able to relate better.
I would volunteer to be the first. I was a good athlete, very strong and could bend like a pretzel.
Then I started work, I sat on cold concrete, picked up things that now make me wince just thinking about it, cut myself so many times, that I could give blood to a 3rd world country. Now I do not bend so well, I cannot carry anything like I used to and the strength in my hands, arms shoulders, back and legs are pretty sad to say. My right knee suddenly just gives out whenever I least expect it to. That can sometimes be embarassing. This experience has led me to say if I had to do it all over again knowing what I know now, I would do it differently.
I would volunteer to be the first. I was a good athlete, very strong and could bend like a pretzel.
Then I started work, I sat on cold concrete, picked up things that now make me wince just thinking about it, cut myself so many times, that I could give blood to a 3rd world country. Now I do not bend so well, I cannot carry anything like I used to and the strength in my hands, arms shoulders, back and legs are pretty sad to say. My right knee suddenly just gives out whenever I least expect it to. That can sometimes be embarassing. This experience has led me to say if I had to do it all over again knowing what I know now, I would do it differently.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Well said Pierre. I think all of us older guys could just change the name at the top of the post and be pretty close to the same story.
And old is a reletive term, I threw my back out when I was 17 and didn't get into the trades until I was 19 by the time I was 30 I was walking like and old man and my body just never had time to recoup as I was working 12+ hours a day sometimes 7 days a week. That's one of the main reasons I became an inspector, I just couldn't do the job the way I was used to.
I'm only 49 now, but just picking up one of my grandkids wrong can lay me up for a few days. I wake up some days feeling like I got hit by a truck and the most I did was work in the yard.
And old is a reletive term, I threw my back out when I was 17 and didn't get into the trades until I was 19 by the time I was 30 I was walking like and old man and my body just never had time to recoup as I was working 12+ hours a day sometimes 7 days a week. That's one of the main reasons I became an inspector, I just couldn't do the job the way I was used to.
I'm only 49 now, but just picking up one of my grandkids wrong can lay me up for a few days. I wake up some days feeling like I got hit by a truck and the most I did was work in the yard.
Well said gentlmen, Pierre and John. I am a little more fortunate than the 2 of you guys. I have had knee surgery and rotator cuff surgery, but both came about as a result of playing sports (at least according to the doctors. It's stange how experience is such a good teacher, if I had listened to some of the old timers (when I was younger) about my body I would be in much better shape today.
Edited to add when I should have listened to the old timers. When I was younger.
Edited to add when I should have listened to the old timers. When I was younger.
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