There are a number of solutions available to assist with handling industrial equipment and tools for workers with reduced fine motor skills:
On the job strategies
Additional to the workplace solutions identified above, people with fine motor impairments may also need to incorporate on the job strategies to assist them to complete tasks such as:
- Use tools that are designed to keep the wrist in a neutral position, so that any force applied does not place excess strain on the wrist.
- Use power assisted tools that eliminate the need to apply manual force
- Pad-up slimmer tool handles to optimise grip size and thus reduce tension in the hand muscles
- Use tools with non-slip grips
- Use of safety products to reduce hazards such as machine guards and steel mesh gloves. See links below for more information:
- machine guards
- steel mesh gloves
- Rotate tasks on a regular basis to reduce prolonged or repetitive activity in the hand and wrist
- For tools involving cutting, use spring-loaded pins to eliminate the need to open tools after each cutting action
- For leverage tools (such as a crowbar), use longer lever arms where possible, as less force is required to produce the same result compared to smaller lever arms.
References
Independent Living Centres Australia 2007, Independent Living Centres Australia, Canberra, viewed 12 September 2007, www.ilcaustralia.org.au
Stevenson, M.G. 1999, Notes on the Principles of Ergonomics, Mike Stevenson Ergonomics, Sydney.