Tools are powered and unpowered implements designed to direct, control, alter, or otherwise manipulate physical forces generated by the human body or by the tool themselves. The simplest tools available are hammers which, through the use of leverage, magnify and direct the force generated by the movement of the human hand, and the wedge which, by virtue of its cutting profile and edge, is used to direct force to a point, like a chisel or a stonecutting wedge. Tools can be powered as well, such as in the case of battery-operated cardboard cutters, corded and cordless power drills, drop saws, jackhammers, and others. In these cases, the tool-user's job is to maintain the position of the tool and apply force to direct the energy of the tool.
Unpowered tools like hammers, screwdrivers, socket wrenches, shovels, and saws rely on force generated by the human body to work. The effectiveness of the tool's operation will depend on the experience of its holder, their ability to control the force developed by their body, and their ability to control the use of the tool. Given that the worker is using their body to use the tool, the worker may experience greater risk of physical discomfort, such as carpal tunnel or tenosynovitis when hammering, repetitive strain when screwing, lower back pain when shovelling, and elbow pain if using a saw. The likelihood of developing this discomfort depends on the doses of force interacting within the human body, which may produce different results depending on workers' age, sex, overall fitness, and experience.
Powered tools like cordless drills, rattle guns, chainsaws, grinders, and nail guns use motors, the combustion of fuel, or internal mass drivers to generate the force necessary to accomplish a task. In these cases, the worker needs to direct that force by holding onto the tool, which depending on the force being directed and the resistance against the application of that force, may require more or less effort on the part of the worker to ensure safe operation. An easy example of this is what happens when using a cordless drill to drive a screw that secures two panels of flatpack furniture - the drill rotates along its axis, which drives the screw into the hole. Once the screw is in place, it can no longer turn, and if a drill is used on a screw that cannot turn, then the drill may kick, and the operator will need to use their hand to secure the tool.
Tools allow workers and humans more generally to harness and direct forces greater in intensity and duration than those which can be immediately, easily, or sustainably generated by the human body either over the duration of a shift or over a lifespan. Where tools are needed to do the work, their usage must be considered with respect to safety to ensure that workers are not exposed to un-necessary or otherwise unmitigated risk. Powered and unpowered tools should be in good condition, selected for appropriate use, and inspected to ensure safety. Workers using tools should also select protective equipment that mitigates those risks that cannot otherwise be controlled, and handle those tools with care. Powered tools should be inspected and serviced if needed to ensure safety, and swapped if needed. Workers working with powered tools should take time to familiarise themselves with appropriate bit, setting, and power selections. Workers working with powered tools should also be mindful of electrical and energy safety, the control of wires and leads, and the noise, vibration, dust, or other byproducts that may be produced through tool usage.
Each workplace is different, with different demands, methods of business, and is staffed by people whose capacities, needs, and risk profiles are different. Managing ergonomic, environmental, and occupational health and safety challenges requires a business to examine and engage with the ecosystem of factors that give rise to risk, and how that risk may affect people. Each workplace is different and so sometimes the same problem will require different solutions. This applies to workers as well - every person is different and so may require different support, supervision, or resources to perform comfortably and sustainably. Under Work Health and Safety law, consultation with the workforce, the control of risk as far as is reasonably practicable, and the provision of information, training, instruction and support to the worker by the workplace, is essential to meet obligations to provide workers with a workplace that is as free of risk as far is reasonably practicable.
In our capacity as consultants, Atlas Physio will explore and scope the business and its needs, examining how exposures, risks, and processes contribute to the hazard ecosystem, best inform the design and arrangement of procedural, policy-based, and practical risk controls. Our solutions are tailored to the needs of those with whom we work, implemented in a simple, sustainable, and supportive fashion, designed to be robust and resilient, and to support the ongoing life of the business as well as the sustainable wellbeing of the workers who undertake the day to day activities of work.
At Atlas Physio, we provide reporting, structured control, and ongoing management of risk onsite, on the road, and wherever work is done. We are open seven days a week, and are happy to offer a brief complimentary discussion to explore the needs of your business and your workers if you are an employer, and your needs if you are a worker. Reach out today to arrange a discussion and take the first step toward managing risk and working safely, supported by expertise that is practical, reliable, and designed to deliver lasting results.