Non-powered hand tool improvement research for prevention of work-related problems: a review

Abstract

Purpose. In lower-middle-income countries, most of the work is performed manually using non-ergonomic hand tools which results in work-related health problems. Using hand tools designed in line with ergonomic principles may play an important role in reducing work-related health concerns significantly. Methods. Scientific databases (PubMed, EBSCOhost) and e-publishers were searched for articles from 1985 to 2015 using the following keywords: ‘hand tool’, ‘ergonomics’, ‘usability’ and ‘design’. After applying selection criteria to 614 articles, 58 articles related to the physical design of hand tools were selected. Results. Seventeen articles were related to hand tool improvement in the manufacturing sector. Musculoskeletal disorders were found to be the most frequently occurring work-related health problems. Most of the articles focused on product and qualitative variables for improvement in hand tools, while few articles considered human and task variables. Conclusions. Literature shows that hand tool improvement studies have been given less importance in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. However, some work of significance is reported in the agriculture sectors of these countries. Hence, it is concluded that ergonomic intervention in hand tools is much needed for those industries which employ traditional methods of working.

Keywords:

• design
• ergonomics
• hand tool
• lower-middle-income countries
• work-related health problems

Acknowledgements

The corresponding author is grateful to the Ministry of Human Resource Department (MHRD) India for providing a fellowship for this research work and is also grateful to the co-authors for their suggestions at every stage of this study. The authors are very pleased with the favorable comments of the reviewers and duly grateful for the support and encouragement they have afforded.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Rahul Jain http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4355-7744