Education: Ergonomic Solutions for Electrical Contractors.

Materials Handling: Tool Index

The tools listed below may be useful to help electricians reduce discomfort and possible injuries.

Aerial lifts Aerial lifts provide a level work platform and allow workers to reach high places with ease, reducing the amount of overhead and horizontal reaching that is required. These lifts come in boom, reach, and scissor models.

Bent handles Some tools have handles that are bent or angled. These tool designs maximize leverage and reduce the need to bend the wrists.

Battery-powered tools Battery-powered tools, like this cable cutter, speed up tasks and reduce the strain that occurs from using a comparable hand-powered tool. This is especially helpful when workers must do many cutting or crimping operations over a short span of time. Battery-powered tools are usually lighter and more portable than hydraulic tools.

Digging tools There are different shovels and spades for different jobs, including square-blade, round-nose, triangular, and trenching/hole-digging shovels. Use the right tool, with a handle in good repair, without splinters.

Extension handles Extension handles reduce the amount of reaching required to do certain tasks. This reduces back and shoulder strain.

Foot pumps This hydraulic foot pump allows the operator to use foot power and free the hands to hold the work piece.

Forklifts In a warehouse setting, a forklift is essential for lifting large loads that have not been broken down.

Gloves Gloves reduce contact stress on fingers and palms. There are a variety of gloves for different situations. There are rubber gloves (pictured, center) that are insulated for energized work, gloves with no cuff, medium cuff and long cuff. Cut-resistant Kevlar® gloves provide extra protection against cuts and scratches.

Hydraulic tools Hydraulic tools reduce the hand power needed for cutting, wire-stripping, and crimping operations. This tool uses a remote hydraulic pump so only the tool needs to be lifted, instead of the whole pump mechanism as well.

In-line grip Some tools are designed with handles that run the same direction as the length of the tool. This design is ideal when the tool is used in a vertical position.

Kickback clutch Tools equipped with a kickback clutch are safer and reduce the risk of having a tool jump or move unpredictably.

Knee pads When kneeling is required, knee pads ease the stress on knees and allow workers to kneel for longer periods of time.

Ladders and stools Ladders and stools allow workers to get closer to their work and keep hands and arms closer to the body. This reduces strain placed on the arms, shoulders, and back. Fiberglass ladders (pictured) are preferred in electrical work because they are lightweight and non-conducting.

Manual conduit benders Manual conduit benders are lighter, less expensive and more portable than mechanical conduit benders. They are useful for smaller gauges of conduit. These benders should be fitted with long, rigid handles without scratches or dents. Use manual conduit benders correctly and let the tool do the work instead of the back.

Material lifts Material lifts serve the same function as forklifts, but they are more portable and can be taken to the work site. Manual and powered models are available.

Mechanical conduit benders Mechanical conduit benders make bending conduit easy. The machine does the work, so workers don't have to bend conduit manually. They are often mounted on wheels so they can be rolled to different locations.

Mechanical wire pullers Mechanical wire pullers do the work of pulling, reducing the strain that would occur from doing this manually. They also save time and increase productivity.

Motorized hand trucks These special hand trucks climb stairs, lift into tailgates, and make moving easy. The initial investment pays off in time saved and injury costs avoided.

Padded tool belts and suspenders Padded tool belts reduce potential contact stress by evenly distributing the weight that tool belts and bags place on hips. Suspenders ease the burden of tool belts and bags by distributing some of the weight to the shoulders.

Padded tool handles Tools like this cutting/stripping tool are fitted with padded handles that ease the stress placed on hands. They provide a good grip, which reduces slipping.

Pistol grip Many tools are designed with a pistol-style grip. This design is ideal for using the tool in a horizontal orientation.

Ratcheting tools Tools like this PVC cutter are equipped with a ratcheting mechanism. This allows an easier, incremental squeezing effort to operate the tool, easing strain on hands and wrists.

Reach forklifts Reach forklifts can lift materials to great heights, and place large loads into trucks or on platforms.

Roll-out truck bed decks Roll-out truck bed decks allow easy access to the contents of a truck bed. This eliminates the need to climb in a cramped truck bed area or reach over the sides of the truck.

Storage tools Storage units like this one allow easy access to tools and supplies. Some are mobile and can be placed close to the work area, reducing the distance tools and supplies must be carried.

Tool stands This battery-powered cable cutter rests in a stand that frees hands and improves the cutting process. This stand may remain unattached or it may be fastened to a work bench.

Transport devices Transport devices, like this spool cart, make moving smaller loads easy. Other moving tools include hand trucks, utility carts, and platform trucks.

Truck bins Truck bins give easy access to equipment without the need to crawl into the back of a truck or van.

Truck ramps Truck ramps reduce the amount of lifting required to move heavy materials into the back of a truck. Materials may instead be wheeled or pushed.

Vehicle lifts Vehicle lifts allow heavy loads to be moved in and out of trucks and vans with ease, requiring less manual lifting to unload vehicles.

WAGO connectors Wire is pushed into the holes of these connectors and require no tools. This saves time and reduces wrist strain.