What does good ergonomics bring to the table

The recreational vehicle industry employs millions in its manufacturing workforce. A significant part of them works on the production line, operating tools of various types and weights for hours on end. They stand, bend, and lift to accomplish every task required to deliver high-quality products to the customers. However, this type of work could strain the operators. To address this, companies must focus on minimizing work-related hazards and understanding the role of ergonomics in the workplace.

But first, what is ergonomics?

Ergonomics is a discipline that tattles around three disciplines – human science, work-related sciences, and production science. It describes a complex interaction between the operator and the working environment. More so, ergonomics revolves around designing products, processes, and systems that would suit the conditions for the workers.

We briefly discussed how using tools could strain the workers in an assembly area. Studies (source 1, source 2) have shown that bad ergonomics could cause occupation-related injuries, fatigue, and reduced energy levels, stress, and ultimately reduced productivity and efficiency in the workplace. These are caused by several ergonomic hazards such as poor posture and incorrect body mechanics, repetitive motion injuries, lifting and manual handling, vibration hazards, and inadequate lighting and glare.

Imagine an operator bending uncomfortably for hours to secure thousands of critical joints in an 8-hour shift, five days a week, and sometimes even more. This repetitive motion could lead to strain and stress the operators which could lead to more serious health problems down the line. An employer should provide optimal working conditions for employees to do their job properly.

Workstations and working practices should be designed to prevent unnecessary exposure of the operator to physical strain, noise, vibration, and dust. Selecting an ergonomic tool for every task is also essential to create optimal working conditions in every assembly area.

At Atlas Copco, we have been applying ergonomics in our products since the 1950’s. Decades of research and development have provided us with a range of products and solutions designed to tackle ergonomic challenges in the assembly area. Our portfolio includes ergonomically designed handheld tools that ensure the best possible work experience for every operator.

We suggest considering these factors when choosing a tool for your assembly area:

Power-to-weight ratio: An ergonomic tool also aims to create less, twisting and bending, low reaction force and less vibration. Tools should have a high power-to-weight ratio, whereas heavy tools should not have a higher load on the wrist as this could compromise precision.

Handle and Trigger grip: A natural grip is always the most comfortable, so customers should give attention to the handle and trigger when choosing an ergonomic tool. The handgrip's natural angle depends on the hand size, which is about 70 degrees.

The length of the handle is critical to minimize twisting torque in the hand or levering torque on the wrist and the arm. The diameter of the handle is also important to consider. Recommended diameters are 38mm for men and 34mm for women, as these provide the strongest grip and cause minimum strain in the hand when held. For ease of movement and minimize loading of the wrist, the tool should be kept short with the center of balance where the tool is gripped. Keeping the distance between the hand and the workpiece as short as possible speeds up precision tasks. On the other hand, the trigger should be user-friendly and give the operator the right “feel” when using the tool, as such the operator should be able to control the speed of the tool by pressing on the trigger and ensure precision. 

Sound: Tools produce noise in various ways, e.g. process noise, air flow, and vibration induced noise. Exposure to high sound levels adversely affects the operator’s concentration, energy, and hearing ability.   Employers have many options to control noise levels in a workshop. Regarding air tools, it's crucial to use those with low noise emissions and to select tools that can perform tasks quickly.

Vibration: Another factor to consider is the level of vibration that a tool creates. Exposure to excessive levels of vibration can cause vascular injury, nerve cell damage, and joint bone damage.  Advanced tool designs now aim to control and reduce vibration. Some examples are the vibration-dampening handle on grinders or pavement breakers; the air-spring behind the autobalancer on a grinder, and the differential piston in a chipping hammer.

If you want to learn more about different ergonomic tool designs to optimize your production line, check out the Atlas Copco Pocket Guide on Ergonomics below.

We would say – yes! Investing in ergonomic tools and equipment is a key strategy in the manufacturing industry.

Understanding and implementing ergonomics is important to reducing occupation-related injuries, fatigue, and stress amongst the workers. An operator who experiences a high job

satisfaction is more likely to be motivated to work efficiently and to take a more active role in the production system.

We at Atlas Copco leverage over a century of experience in industry solutions to deliver high-quality products and optimize operations while ensuring operator wellness. We're eager to assist with your assembly challenges. Contact us today to learn more!