Screwdrivers and their use from a Swedish construction industry perspective

Area of Science:

• Occupational health and safety
• Ergonomics
• Construction industry safety

Background:

• Hand tool use is a significant cause of injuries in the Swedish construction industry.
• Traditional practices influence tool selection and work methods, often leading to repetitive motions and awkward postures.
• Both manual and powered screwdrivers can lead to high muscle loads, particularly in the forearms and shoulders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze critical aspects of screwdriver use in occupational settings, focusing on force exertion and construction work.
• To investigate the impact of different screwdriver types and work factors on physical loads.
• To identify strategies for reducing injury risks associated with screwdriving tasks.

Main Methods:

• Review of common screwdriving practices in the construction industry.
• Analysis of muscle load factors, including tool type, working posture, and material characteristics.
• Examination of biomechanical forces, such as push reaction forces and shoulder torque.

Main Results:

• Manual screwdriving generates substantial forearm muscle loads.
• Battery-powered screwdrivers significantly decrease forearm muscle load and enhance productivity.
• External factors like working height and material properties contribute to high shoulder muscle loads and torque, with push forces potentially exceeding 70% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC).

Conclusions:

• Reducing screwdriving injury risk requires improvements in screwdriver design, user posture, and material/screw selection.
• Work organization and ergonomic considerations are crucial for mitigating occupational musculoskeletal disorders.
• Addressing both tool-specific and environmental factors is essential for safer screwdriving practices in construction.