Tool selection, ergonomics and economics: a comparison study between traditional and proposed broader ergonomic hand tool evaluation
by Zhonglun Wang; Richard T. Stone; Joseph Yun-Ming Kim; Erik Danford-Klein; Ahmad Abdelhafiz Mumani; Colten W. Fales; Thomas M. Schnieders
International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics (IJHFE), Vol. 9, No. 1, 2022

Abstract: Modern hand tools are designed to increase productivity, increase product quality, and prevent injuries. If chosen poorly, they can cause severe financial losses by decreasing productivity, increasing defect rates, and causing injuries. These potential losses make it essential to develop an evaluation system that calculates the financial impact of purchasing a hand tool. A literature review revealed that traditional ergonomic hand tool evaluations solely relied on users' responses limiting their ability to make holistic financial decisions. This study used a four-pronged approach, which included tool output, users' responses, user-tool performance, and finished product quality. Sixteen participants (n = 16) tested four categories of electrician power tools in the simulated utility repair operation. Of the four types of tools tested, three had differing recommendations between the traditional and broader evaluations, demonstrating the importance of a broader evaluation. The broader ergonomic hand tool evaluation method was recommended for future hand tool evaluation studies.

Online publication date: Fri, 21-Jan-2022

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