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http://dx.doi.org/10.5143/JESK.2008.27.2.049

Performance, Wrist Motion and Subjective Rating for Handle Angle of Pliers  

Kee, Do-Hyung (Department of Industrial & Management Engineering, Keimyung University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea / v.27, no.2, 2008 , pp. 49-57 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the effect of handle angles of pliers on performance, wrist motion and subjective rating of satisfaction. An experiment was conducted, in which handle angle of pliers was used as independent variable and 14 subjects participated. Based on the literature survey, plier handles angled at 0$^{\circ}$, 10$^{\circ}$, 20$^{\circ}$, 30$^{\circ}$ and 40$^{\circ}$ were adopted in the experiment. The subjects were instructed to bend iron plates by 90$^{\circ}$ and to cut wires as soon as possible. The results revealed that 1) handle angles of pliers have significant effect on wrist motion and satisfaction(p<0.0001); 2) handle angles of pliers did not affect performance of completing tasks irrespective of types of tasks done in the study; 3) in the initial stage of windup, plier with handle angled at 20$^{\circ}$ produced the least wrist motion of deviation in task of bending iron plates, while plier with handle angled at 40$^{\circ}$ did in task of cutting wires; 4) degree of satisfaction was maximized when handle of pliers was bent by 20$^{\circ}$ in both tasks. On the basis of the results, it is recommended that handle of pliers be bent by 20-30$^{\circ}$ for reducing musculoskeletal disorders related to pliers.
Keywords
Plier; Plier handle; Performance; Wrist motion;
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