A quantitative evaluation of gloves used with non-powered hand tools in routine maintenance tasks

Non-powered hand tools are a major means of carrying out routine maintenance and repair activities. The use of gloves in such situations is essential in order to protect the hands from potential injuries. Together, the gloves and hand tools accomplish the task by transmitting the muscle force on to the workpiece. Several studies have reported that the capability of hands to exert force/torque is severely influenced by the use of gloves. The use of gloves could also lead to a cumulative trauma disorder, rapid onset of muscular fatigue, etc. Most previous studies have focused on determining the influence of gloves on grip strength or push/pull forces one would exert while using devices such as knives. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of a variety of commercially available gloves on the force/torque exertion capability of workers with wrenches and screwdrivers that are commonly used in performing routine maintenance and repairs. Nineteen males participated in the study and, using seven different hand tools and nine varieties of commercial gloves, exerted peak volitional torques on a simulated workpiece. The peak torque and electromyogram of flexor and extensor muscles were recorded. The results indicated that muscle activity did not differ significantly between the glove and no-glove conditions and the peak torque exertion capability of individuals generally increased with gloves. The magnitude of torque exerted on the workpiece was different for different gloves. The results also contradict some of the previously reported findings.