Ergonomía Herrmientas Manuales

Easy Ergonomics:

A Guide to
Selecting
Non-Powered
Hand Tools

Department of Industrial Relations
Cal/OSHA Consultation Service
Research and Education Unit

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute for Occupatonal Safety and Health

This booklet is a joint effort between
the California Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (Cal/OSHA)
and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Disclaimer
Mention of any company name or product does not constitute
endorsement by Cal/OSHA or NIOSH/CDC.

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted.

For information about occupational safety and health topicscontact NIOSH at:
1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674)
Fax: 513-533-8573
E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Publications Dissemination
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
Download this publication from Cal/OSHA or NIOSH:
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/puborder.asp
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh

Easy Ergonomics: A Guide to Selecting Non-PoweredHand Tools was developed and prepared
for publication by the Research & Education Unit, Cal/OSHA Consultation Service, California
Department of Industrial Relations and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
It was distributed under the provisions of the Library Distribution Act and Government Code
Section 11096.
Published by the California Department of IndustrialRelations and the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2004.

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-164

Easy Ergonomics:

A Guide
to Selecting
Non-Powered
Hand Tools

About This Booklet
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 onpeerreviewed articles and expert input. The checklist has been evaluated for reliability in identifying
the presence or absence of basic ergonomic design features (Dababneh et al.*). The right tool
will help you reduce your risk of injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or muscle
strain.
*Dababneh A, Lowe B, Krieg E, Kong Y, and Waters T, A Checklist for the Ergonomic
Evaluation ofNon-Powered Hand Tools, accepted for publication in the December 2004 issue of
the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.

Note: 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.
No one is required touse the information in this booklet. This booklet is not intended to
provide employers with information on how to comply with Cal/OSHA regulations.

Foreword
Non-powered hand tools are widely used in a variety of industries including construction,
manufacturing, and agriculture. National data suggests that a large number of injuries known as
musculoskeletal disorders are attributable tohand tool use in occupational settings, resulting in
unnecessary suffering, lost workdays, and economic costs. Prevention of work-related
musculoskeletal disorders is a high priority for both the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) and the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA).
Both agencies recognize the importance of design and selectionof hand tools in strategies to reduce
injuries of this type.
To the untrained eye, however, it may be difficult to evaluate tools from an ergonomic point of view.
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...