After a few hours on the line, even the smallest tool can feel heavy and awkward. Most of the time, it’s no big deal. Once you get used to tightening fasteners and taking strokes, you won’t feel like lifting Thor’s hammer at all times. Isn’t it long to wait three months?
Yes, of course. Would you be interested in three years? How about thirty years? The day-to-day lifting and lowering of tools do wear on nerves, muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, and tendons. Carving canyons and turning mountains into sand does not require solid or tough operators. To obtain the same results, use the same amount of force every time. Neither the biggest nor the strongest can handle that.
Fortunately, the problem can be easily fixed. There’s no need to limit the hours your operators work or provide lighter tools. Taking the weight off their shoulders is all that’s needed. The weight of your tool can be carried by a simple tool balancer located above the operator’s workstation. Check out this guide for choosing the right tool balancers, load balancers and improving the ergonomics of your operators.
Improve Performance and Reduce Injuries with tool balancers
The use of tool balancers reduces injuries to tool operators’ muscles and joints. It is attached to the operator’s tool by a retractable cable suspended above the operator’s workstation. Your operator only has to direct the movement of the tool, not support its weight, since the cable holds its weight.
As well as reducing injury risks, tool balancers also reduce fatigue and increase productivity. By not being weighed down by their tool for long periods of time, operators tend to remain alert and maintain precision at all times while maintaining their muscular strength. As a result, when workers are rested and ready for work, they are more productive and satisfied than their exhausted and drained counterparts.
With tool balancers, operators no longer have to lift heavy tools; so many problems on production lines have been solved. The following benefits can be gained from improving operator ergonomics:
- Longevity of your tools
Your tools are protected from damage caused by accidental drops and impacts when you integrate tool balancers into your assembly process. A tool balancer is usually a valuable addition to any tool because it protects the tool and prolongs its life.
- Enhancing productivity
By balancing tools above the work area, the tool is always within easy reach.
- Low risk of worker’s compensation claims
Reducing repetitive motion that could lead to fatigue and injury is one advantage of balancing tools. In addition, workers’ compensation can reduce financial losses for the employer.
Keeping people safe and performing at their best
Research shows that repetitive motion injuries account for about one-third of all workplace injuries. Operators working on assembly lines are particularly susceptible to ergonomics because of the repetitive motions they must perform. For example, a worker may be responsible for fastening hundreds of items during the assembly line process.
An operator’s workstation can be supported by balancing tools above it by using retractable cables. This feature reduces the risk of fatigue and musculoskeletal injuries by only requiring operators to control the tool without lifting it.
When selecting a tool balancer, make sure that the weight range matches the weight range of the tool that needs support. You can get all kinds of tool balancers from the Powermaster Company, which is known for its superior quality of load balancers and tool balancers. The company is known for providing the best and efficient tool balancers which one can be obtain from its website easily. Injuries, damage and/or balancer failure can occur if you connect a heavier tool than the indicated support weight. Please contact us with any questions you have regarding tool balancer specifications.