Construction Solutions - Tool Handle Wraps



Solution: Tool Handle Wraps
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	Description:	GripStrip Grip Wrap More Detail Tool handle wraps are viscoelastic materials that are designed to dampen vibration from power tools. They are available in long narrow strips, heat shrink tubing, or larger rectangular sheets. An adhesive is used to keep the wrap on the tool. Typically, a 44 inch strip is long enough to wrap an average-sized handle. Materials vary in thickness from 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Manufacturers use a variety of anti-vibration viscoelastic materials to produce tool handle wraps, such as Gelpact®, Sorbothane®, T-lastic, and Viscolas®. It makes sense to purchase bulk quantities of tool handle wrap because the wrap becomes ineffective at dampening vibration after use, and therefore must be replaced frequently to remain effective. There is a lack of data available that details which vibration frequencies are dampened when using tool handle wraps. For these reasons, tool handle wraps should be used as a last resort or temporary solution until reduced vibration tools can be purchased. Less Detail
	Risks Addressed:	Hand-arm Vibration Stressful hand and wrist activities, specifically contact stress from tool handles with sharp edges.
	How Risks are Reduced:	Tool handle wraps are designed to reduce the intensity of vibration transmitted from a tool to the hand and arm. Also, tool handle wraps can increase the contact area between the hand and tool handle for handles with sharp edges. These wraps can reduce exposure to uncomfortable contact stresses to the hand. Tool wraps can also improve comfort when holding tools with metal handles, which can get cold. Quality of Evidence Manufacturers, vendors, or worksites have reported a risk reduction. Some companies report that vibration dampening tool handle wraps can protect the hands from 55% of the vibration energy created by the tool. There have not been any independent studies on tool handle wraps. A disadvantage of tool handle wraps is that handle diameter increases, which may increase grip force. Thus, safety and health experts do not agree that the possible advantages of using tool handle wraps outweighs the disadvantages.
	Effects on Productivity:	Tool handle wraps may increase or decrease productivity, but protecting the hands from injury while handling/operating tools. Quality of Evidence Safety and health experts believe there is an increase in productivity. Manufacturers do not report that tool handle wraps affect productivity. Although there are no independent studies on tool handle wraps, health and safety experts are unsure whether productivity is increased or decreased while using tool handle wraps. Tool handle wraps may reduce hand fatigue and thus increase worker productivity. However, productivity may be decreased with the use of tool handle wraps because workers may need to stop working to reapply a wrap when the adhesive wears out. However, if the tool handle wraps are used temporarily, as recommended, this should not be a long-term problem.
	Return on Investment:	No specific calculation ROI information exists for this particular solution, however, there are some general approaches that might be useful for a “Return On Investment” analysis. For a general discussion of these approaches, visit our “Return on Investment Calculation” page.
	Availability:	Tool handle wraps are inexpensive and readily available from online merchants. They may be harder to find in retail stores. Western Safety Products: http://www.westernsafety.com/chaseergonomics/chaseergopg3.html Impacto: http://www.impacto.ca/vibrate.cfm Viscolas products, Orthex Grip Kits, GripMaster: http://www.viscolas.com/handproducts.html
	Additional Considerations:	Some safety and health experts do not recommend tool handle wraps because they increase tool handle diameter and may not dampen the impact of harmful hand-arm vibration frequencies. When tool handle diameters are too thick, more forceful exertions are required to operate the tool. Handle diameter for single-handed tools, such as a screwdriver should be between 1.25 and 2 inches for power tasks (high force), and between 0.25 and 0.5 inches for precision tasks (low force). See the Ergonomic Hand Tools solution page for more detailed hand tool guidelines. Instead of using tool handle wraps, health and safety experts recommend that workers use reduced vibration tools or anti-vibration gloves.
	Hazards Addressed:	Carpentry Construct suspended ceiling interior systems Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Frame floors, walls, ceiling, stairs and roofs using wood and/or metal studs Hand-Arm Vibration Install and finish flooring Hand-Arm Vibration Stooped postures Stressful hand & wrist activity Install cabinets, countertops and moldings Hand-Arm Vibration Install doors, windows and associated hardware Hand-Arm Vibration Stooped postures Stressful hand & wrist activity Move, shape and place drywall Stooped postures Stressful hand & wrist activity Place wood, metal or engineered floor and ceiling beams Stooped postures Electrical Climb poles and structures Stressful hand & wrist activity Install and maintain electrical control system Stressful hand & wrist activity Install and maintain motors, pumps, fixtures, lights Stressful hand & wrist activity Install and maintain temporary wiring systems on construction sites Stressful hand & wrist activity Install and repair high voltage lines, transformers, switches Stressful hand & wrist activity Install interior wiring systems Stressful hand & wrist activity Pull wire through conduits Stressful hand & wrist activity Splice and connect wiring systems Stressful hand & wrist activity Work with or remove old wiring Stressful hand & wrist activity Excavation & Demolition Chip, break and recycle concrete Hand-Arm Vibration Deconstruct building foundations Stressful hand & wrist activity Deconstruct superstructures Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Use rock drills and tie-backs Hand-Arm Vibration General Labor Manual demolition Hand-Arm Vibration Use jackhammers and earth tampers Hand-Arm Vibration Heavy Equipment Operation Maintain heavy equipment Stressful hand & wrist activity Insulation & Lagging Access piping in trenches and confined spaces Stressful hand & wrist activity Assemble and dismantle scaffolding Stressful hand & wrist activity Attach insulation with tape, staples, glue, wire and bands Stressful hand & wrist activity Blow and place insulation into walls, ceilings and thermal controlled areas and equipment Stressful hand & wrist activity Install and apply fire stop products Stressful hand & wrist activity Maintain and remove old insulation including asbestos Stressful hand & wrist activity Place finished insulation around duct, pipes, tanks, vessels and mechanical equipment Stressful hand & wrist activity Spray and trowel fireproofing onto columns and beams Stressful hand & wrist activity Masonry, Cement & Plaster Caulking, sealing and waterproofing installations Stressful hand & wrist activity Chipping, scraping and grinding surfaces or joints Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Cleaning and finishing installations Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Cutting bricks, blocks, stone, concrete, tile or terrazzo Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Drilling holes and installing reinforcing rods and anchors Hand-Arm Vibration Noise Stressful hand & wrist activity Forming, pouring, laying or applying refractory materials Stressful hand & wrist activity Laying or setting brick, block, stone, tile or marble Stressful hand & wrist activity Mixing cement, mortar, plaster, or grout Stressful hand & wrist activity Operating power vibrator to compact concrete or grout Stressful hand & wrist activity Pouring or transporting cement, mortar, plaster, or grout Stressful hand & wrist activity Spreading, leveling, and smoothing concrete, mortar or terrazzo mixtures Stressful hand & wrist activity Transporting bricks, blocks, stone, tile, terrazzo or marble and riggings Stressful hand & wrist activity Pipes & Vessels Assemble pipes, tubing and fittings Hand-Arm Vibration Cut and drill holes in structures prior to pipe installation Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Cut, thread, hammer and bend pipes and vessel tubes Stressful hand & wrist activity Dig, grade, level and cover trenches Stooped postures Stressful hand & wrist activity Lay and align pipe in trenches Stressful hand & wrist activity Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes Lifting and Carrying (Manual materials handling) Reinforced Concrete Mixing concrete Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Surface grinding or cutting Hand-Arm Vibration Residential Construction Build forms and reinforcing for footings and foundations Stressful hand & wrist activity Cut boards and panels to required shape and size Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Install electrical Stressful hand & wrist activity Install exterior siding Stressful hand & wrist activity Install modular or prefabricated components Stressful hand & wrist activity Install plumbing Stressful hand & wrist activity Install roof and exterior sheathing and sub-floors Stressful hand & wrist activity Install roofing shingles or tiles Stressful hand & wrist activity Install wood, metal or engineered floor and ceiling beams Stressful hand & wrist activity Paint interior and exterior Stressful hand & wrist activity Pour concrete Hand-Arm Vibration Roofing Remove old roofing materials Stressful hand & wrist activity Sheet Metal & HVAC Assemble fittings and fasten seams and joints using hand and power tools Hand-Arm Vibration Kneeling & Squatting Stressful hand & wrist activity Install heating and air conditioning duct hangers & ductwork Stressful hand & wrist activity Install risers Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Layout, shear, drill and punch holes in metal Stooped postures Stressful hand & wrist activity Structural Steel Assemble and disassemble structural members in shop and field Hand-Arm Vibration Stressful hand & wrist activity Dismantle or demolish metal structures Stressful hand & wrist activity Drill, grind and saw materials Hand-Arm Vibration Overhead work Stressful hand & wrist activity Weld, plasma cut, air-arc and flame cut metal Stressful hand & wrist activity More 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