Ergonomic Designed Spray Guns Reduce Risk Factors
A common part of the body affected by Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) is the wrist. According to a Ohio State University study, injuries to the wrist accounted for 48% of the worker compensation claims filed for CTDs. One of the primary risk factors for CTDs is repetition. Pressure washing fits the profile of a highly repetitive task. Sometimes a job site requires an individual to spray water for several hours throughout the day. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that pressure washing may place a worker at risk of CTDs. One potential means of minimizing this risk would be to provide workers with an ergonomically designed spray gun. Characteristics of the the gun such as the weight og the gun and required trigger force to activate can all contribute to the level of exposure of CTDs to workers.
There are several factors that may contribute to the risk of CTDs during pressure washing. These include: wrist deviation, finger flexor activity when gripping a tool, and muscle fatigue. The Ohio State University study found high levels of wrist deviation were common in the pressure washing industry.
Ergonomically designed pressure washer guns can reduce the risk factors associated with CTDs. When looking for new or replacement guns, make sure you are receiving ones that have been proven to reduce trigger force. Ergonomic design can significantly affect the bio-mechanical behavior of the worker during a daily routine task. By reducing wrist pain and muscle fatigue associated with the use of using pressure washer guns, work capacity will increase and more efficiency will be achieved throughout work cycles.