IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail

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April 19, 2024

Development of a system that can be used in the field to measure the coupling forces at the interface between the hand and the handle of portable vibrating tools

Abstract

Worker exposure to hand-arm vibrations may lead to various health problems involving the circulation (Raynaud’s syndrome), a loss of sensitivity in the fingers, or may even worsen various musculoskeletal disorders. The vibration dose received by workers is currently quantified according to the provisions of international standard ISO 5349, which provides guiding principles for measuring and evaluating the vibrations transmitted by hand-held tools. However, several research teams are questioning certain aspects of this standard, such as frequency weighting and the non-consideration of coupling forces such as the gripping force and thrusting force.
The aim of this research project is to develop a low-cost system for measuring the static and dynamic forces that are exerted between the hand and the handle during work with vibrating tools, based on the type of tool, the operator’s posture, and his work habits. The generalized use of such a system will allow a better estimation of the health risks associated with the operation of vibrating portable tools and also, the identification of solution scenarios for minimizing these forces in order to preserve the workers’ health.

Produced Under this Project

  • Development of a low-cost system to evaluate coupling forces on real power tool handles

    Pierre Marcotte, Adewusi S., Rakheja S.

    Source :

    in Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference on Hand-Arm Vibration : Douzième congrès international sur les vibrations mains-bras, (12th: June 13-17, 2011, Ottawa, Canada). Canadian Acoustics / Acoustique canadienne, vol. 39, no 2, 2011, p. 36-37

  • Evaluation of coupling forces on power tool handles using a thin film resistive pressure sensor

    Pierre Marcotte, Rakheja S., Kalra M., Dewangan K. N.

    Source :

    in American Conference on Human Vibration : Proceedings of the 5th American Conference on Human Vibration, (5th : June 10-13, 2014 : Ontario, Canada), Oliver, M. (ed.), 2014, p. 45-46

  • Development and assessment of a coupling force measurement system applied to stationary and vibrating tool handles

    Mayank K.

    Source :

    Mémoire de maîtrise, Montréal, Université Concordia, 2014

  • Développement d’un système de mesure des forces de couplage à l’interface main-poignée d’outils portatifs vibrants pouvant être utilisé sur le terrain

    Pierre Marcotte

    Source :

    Communication présentée au Rendez-vous de la science de l'IRSST, Montréal, Canada.

  • Evaluation of low-cost resistive sensors for measurements of hand forces on vibrating handles

    Rakheja S., Pierre Marcotte, Dewangan K. N., Kalra M.

    Source :

    Communication présentée à 13th International Conference on Hand-Arm Vibration, Beijing, Chine, 2015 (p. 47-48).

  • Measurement of coupling forces at the power tool handle-hand interface

    Kalra M., Rakheja S., Pierre Marcotte, Dewangan K. N., Adewusi S.

    Source :

    (2015). International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 50, 105-120. doi: 10.1016/j.ergon.2015.09.013

  • Feasibility analysis of low-cost flexible resistive sensors for measurements of driving point mechanical impedance of the hand-arm systems

    Kalra M., Rakheja S., Pierre Marcotte, Dewangan K. N., Adewusi S.

    Source :

    (2015). International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 49, 44-52.

Additional Information

Type: Project
Number: 0099-6570
Status: Completed
Year of completion: 2015
Team: