Citation

Lin JH, Radwin RG, Richard TG. Hum. Factors 2003; 45(4): 645-656.

Affiliation

Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15055461

Abstract

This study uses a previously developed single-degree-of-freedom mechanical model to predict the power hand tool operator handle kinematic response to impulsive reaction forces (Lin, 2001). The model considers the human operator as a lumped parameter passive mechanical system, consisting of stiffness, mass moment of inertia, and viscous damping elements. Six power nutrunners were operated by 9 volunteers (3 men, 6 women) in the laboratory, and corresponding handle kinematics were compared against model predictions. A full-factorial experiment considered torque buildup time and work location. Normalized forearm flexor EMG was measured to quantify muscle exertions and used to proportionally adjust the stiffness parameter. The measured handle displacement for actual tool operation strongly correlated to the model predictions (R = .98) for all handle configurations. The overall model prediction error was 3% for predicting tool handle responses to impulsive reaction forces for various tool and workstation parameters. This model should make it possible for designers to identify conditions that minimize the torque reaction experienced by power hand tool operators.