Ergonomics THE MAN. A Research Approach to Ergonomic knives

Transcription

1 THE MAN A Research Approach to Ergonomic knives

2 What is ergonomics? Ergonomics is a science that studies and measures how we interact with the objects we use and the environments we live in. Its aim is to improve the comfort and efficiency of our lives, with particular attention to health and safety. Do we need ergonomic hand tools? Over the centuries mankind has used tools to accomplish countless objectives in agriculture and industry. While many tools have evolved into efficient instruments with specific uses, other tools have remained virtually unchanged since the industrial revolution. As industry makes increasing demands for efficiency and precision, to be functional and effective, modern tools must be designed with human capabilities and limitations in mind. Today, there is growing demands among business and professional had tool users, for ergonomic products to reduce the frequency of industrial injuries known as Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD's). CTD's are injuries that result from the repeated movements and pressures that occur when doing certain jobs. They develop slowly and they are difficult, often impossible, to fully cure. These injuries are painful and incapacitating, and they have advanced to become the No. 1 occupational hazard of the modern workplace. The need for ergonomically designed tools has always been there, but the increasing general awareness of the benefits offered by these advanced tools is new. Only recently have we acquired the knowledge, materials and techniques necessary to begin to meet this need. "Work related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders MSD's constitute the largest job-related injury and illness problem in the United States today." "Employers pay $ 15-$20 BILLION in workers' compensation costs for MSD's every year." Source Ergonomics Program - Department of Labor - OSHA - Nov "California OSHA has noted comparatively high injury rates in agriculture and designated it a targeted high risk industry. Moreover, these rates help explain why we see so few workers performing these jobs beyond age 35" The goal of ergonomics The goal of ergonomics is to maximise employee comfort and job satisfaction in order to obtain maximum employee productivity. What causes Cumulative Trauma Disorders? A combination of three main factors: Force, Repetition and Bad Posture, can cause sudden injuries such as Sprains or slow developing injuries like Bursitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The highest risks are encountered when a job or tool requiring a combination of force and precision is used repeatedly without sufficient rest for the body to recover. The cost of ignoring ergonomics. As industrial work places become generally safer and violent accidents decrease, more attention is being drawn to injuries that develop slowly. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD's) as they are known, have emerged as a major cause of industrial injury. MSD's not only cause pain and disability to the sufferer, they also cost industry increasing amounts of money in lost production, sickness, insurance and legal penalties. The need for user friendly hand tools that decrease the risk of cumulative injury is clear. 1

3 Ergonomics and styling The handle shape is based on the nine types of knife grips that are used in professional butchering work. Ergonomics and styling are often confused for one and another, but there is a vast difference. Whereas styling looks superficially at the aesthetic modelling of an object, ergonomics goes much deeper. It must take into account various hand sizes and strengths and the many ways that a tool might be held to do specific jobs. Forms, materials and textures all have a function to perform. The Bergo ergonomic knives are shaped to allow the hand to remain in a natural position during the majority of work. What are ergonomic hand tools? Ergonomic tools are designed to meet the demands of the professional user. They reduce musculoskeletal stresses and strains and enable an efficient use of our limbs. Assessing the risk of cumulative stress Tools can be positioned in a 3D graph to help assess their risk factor. A knife can demand rather low force, but when cutting is done repeatedly increases the risk for carpal tunnel syndrome They are proportioned to the dimensions of the user and are efficient in the use of human energy. Ergonomic tools suit the strength and work capacity of the user. A large body of research and literature provides a scientific basis for ergonomic design. Bergo Tools work closely with ergonomic designers at Ergonomic Design Group of Stockholm and professional knife users. 2

4 Work related illness CTD: Cumulative Trauma Disorder RSI: Repetitive Strain Injury OOI: Occupational Overuse Injuries The three conditions listed above are various types of work related musculoskeletal disorders. These disorders result in many more specific conditions such as: tenosynovitis, tendonitis, epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and the most frequently reported of all disorders, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome results from damage to the median nerve at the wrist, this tends to disrupt the functioning of some of the 17,000 pressure sensitive nerve endings in he hand. The carpal ligament The carpal ligament is a band of tough tissue that encircles the wrist. The finger and thumb tendons pass through lubricated sheaths beneath this flexible protective cover. As the hand is repeatedly opened and closed, the tendons that work the fingers can rub against and inflame the sheaths through which the nerves pass. This causes them to swell, which creates pressure within the confined tunnel space in the wrist. The result is a loss of hand function (numbness, tingling and pain). The base of the thumb and index finger, the mid finger and parts of the ring finger can loose the ability to grasp, hold and manipulate. Specialised jobs, repetitive tasks and excessive forces combine with poor posture to make these problems a particular risk of the modern, high production workplace. The situation is made worse by the fact that not enough rest can be taken to allow the body to properly recover. Bergo ergonomic knives combat these tendencies in a direct way, by reducing the effort and stress of repetitive industrial tasks and, where possible, improving posture. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome When the hand is opened and closed in the relaxed neutral position the tendons slide easily through the sheaths at the wrist. As soon as the hand is angled, however, the tendons are squashed into a smaller space and the risk of friction dramatically increases. When friction inflames the tendon sheaths, they swell and put pressure on the median nerve which runs through the same tunnel space. This, in turn, causes pain and problems in the hand itself. Rest is then required to allow the initial inflammation to heal. Tendon sheaths The tough and gristly tendons transfer muscle movements to the bones through sheaths lubricated by synovial fluid. With over-use the sheath can become dry causing friction and inflammation. It can also be flooded with synovial fluid causing ganglionic cysts. 3

5 Skin, muscles and Tendons While our skin seals and protects us from the outside world, our muscles and tendons provide us with the ability to bend and manipulate the rigid skeletal structure beneath the surface. Typical illnesses affecting the skin, muscles and tendons Cuts Sharp edges and unprotected blades. Bleeding, possibility of infection. Rounded contact areas protective shields. Blisters and Calluses Constant rubbing and pressure in one spot, pinching. Formation of liquid between layers of skin. Formation of dense and dry layers of skin. Increase traction to avoid rubbing spread loads over larger areas of skin.. Bruising Hard blows caused by tool slipping: badly aimed blows, pressure points. Pain, rupturing of blood vessels, swelling. Tolerances that are more accurate. Guards spreading loads over larger area, reduce need for sharp movements. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Repeated pressure and stress on tendons in the carpal tunnel, especially if hand is bent at the wrist. Pain, tingling and numbness caused by swollen tendon sheaths pressing on the median nerve. Tools that can be used with the hand in the neutral position. Sprains Excessive stress, often caused by sudden force combined with bad posture. Pain and disablement of the limb. Reduce need for jerk forces, design handles to improve posture. Tennis Elbow (Epicondylitis) Repeated stresses. Tearing of the unsheathed tendon attached to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow. Pain from elbow through forearm. Reduce forceful grasping and lifting with palms down. Avoid using the arm for impact. 4

6 Professionals used to be satisfied with durable steel hand tools. Nowadays, users are more demanding. Why should a tool be either/or? Why not both/and? Both strong, durable, reliable and functional, ergonomic, and user friendly? The truth is, these two aims are not mutually exclusive. As a matter of fact, growing number of professional users now demand hand tools that meet the highest standards of performance and simultaneously reduce the risk of injury in the shortand long-term. In the meat an poultry processing industry the knife is the most used hand tool of all: 8 hours a day. 40 hours a week hours a year. However, highly repetitive motions can be destructive to hand, arm, and shoulder, muscles, joints and sinews. Butchering work is one of the branches in most risk of direct injuries. These injuries are mostly caused by wrongly designed hand tools. A good ergonomic design reduces the risk of direct injury. Correct handle angle The angle between handle and blade has been thoroughly tested so that you can work with a straight wrist to a greater extent Reduces injuries to the carpal tunnel. Two handle sizes Two handle sizes for each type of blade. Medium and Large - both sizes with nine different blade designs. To be slip resistant, the handle is made of two kinds of plastic. A hard core of polypropylene covered with a layer of soft, non-slip thermoplastic elastomer. The knives conform to the requirements of both EU and FDA standards. Stainless steel Nine different blade shapes distilled from generations of usage. Blade back rounded nearest the handle. Accentuated, softly rounded supporting surfaces for thumb and forefinger. Reduce the risk of cutting injures. Back of handle smoothly rounded to give a firm and comfortable grip in the palm of the hand. Rear of handle well rounded. Facilitates changing grip. Easy to swing knife round from dagger to diagonal grip. 5 Blade surface ground transversely. This reduces friction and the meat "falls" more easily from the knife blade. The edge is ground and honed - ready for immediate use. Generous finger guard for added safety. Handle designed to fill the hand, which is important for avoiding cramp and numbness and providing a firm and sure grip. This is also why the handle is made in two sizes, red for medium and white for large. Suspension hole for safe storage.

7 Ergonomic knives Filleting/sorting knives Universal knives Boning knives 8417 M MF-130 FLEX 8427 M M L LF-130 FLEX 8427 L L M MF-150 FLEX 8427 M M L LF-150 FLEX 8427 L L-165 Filleting/sorting knives Universal knives Boning knives Scalloped edge Plastic handle Scalloped edge 8417 MC MFC-130 FLEX 8427 MP MC-140 CULTER 8417 LC LFC-130 FLEX 8427 MP LC- 140 CULTER 8417 MC MFC-150 FLEX 8429 MC-165 CULTER 8417 LC LFC-150 FLEX 8429 LC-165 CULTER Cutting-up knives Cutting-up knives Boning knives Plastic handle 8414 M M MP M L MP L-150 BERGO TOOLS AB continues a more than 100 years tradition by manufacture and marketing the well-known Bahco knives. Our aim is to continue to offer the market the best possible service with a high degree of delivery service and to be responsive to the changes and needs of the market. The knives, with the well-known shark trademark, stand for tradition and new thinking. Quality has always been our guiding star, not only for our products, but also for our customer service. GUARANTEE Our shark-marked products carry full guarantee covering defects in materials and workmanship. 6