Construction Solutions - Snips for Cutting Sheet Metal



Solution: Snips for Cutting Sheet Metal
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	Description:	Cutting sheet metal with snips takes a lot of hand force. You often need to work with your wrist in an awkward position. If you do this work often or for long periods of time, you may experience hand or wrist pain. Eventually you may develop a serious injury. Using the wrong snip for the job increases your chance of injury. Snips come in many shapes and sizes. Manufacturers produce different snips for specifc tasks and specifc workers. If you use left-cut snips to do a right-cut task, your hand and wrist will be in a stressful position and you will have to use more force. If you cut sheet metal that is thicker than the snip manufacturer recommends, more force will also be necessary. If you use dull snips, they will make your work even harder. The three photos below highlight a worker engaged in cutting sheet metal, as well as two views of the snips themselves: More Detail Use the right size and type of snip for the task. New types of snips are available that may fit your hand better, keep your wrist straighter, and require less hand force. Any snip you use should be sharp and tight. Do not use dull or damaged snips. Where necessary use compound snips, which provide much more power. Some compound snips will increase your hand strength by 12 times. Electric snips are usually best when you need to make many cuts. Most snips are made for cutting soft metal only. For hard metal, you should use other cutting tools designed for that purpose. Less Detail
	Risks Addressed:	Injuries arising from using the wrong snip while cutting sheet metal including awkward positioning of the wrist.
	How Risks are Reduced:	Improvements found in the newer snips include less space between the handles, soft grips and curved handles. Using a curved handle can help keep your wrist straight. A soft grip lowers the pressure on your hand and fingers. When the space between handles is less, you may be able to get a better grip on the tool. The Upright Snip™ by Midwest Tool and Cutlery can help keep your wrist straighter when working in confined areas or overhead. No pair of snips will work well for every task. Decide what the job requires and select the correct snips. Manufacturers make specific snips for left and right cuts, straight cuts, and wide or tight curved cuts. There are specific snips for different gauges of sheet metal. Different snips are made to fit left- and right-handed workers. Pay attention to the manufacturer's specifications. Manufacturers color-code snip handles for the type of cut they make— yellow for straight, green for right, and red for left. Use snips that fit both your hand and the job you do, either left-handed or right-handed. Always wear eye protection when using snips. Quality of Evidence Independent published studies have found a risk reduction. Safety and health experts believe there is a risk reduction. Forces applied repeatedly in awkward wrist orientations increase the risk of strain and other injury. Additionally, using the right tool for the job is believed to to reduce exposure and, consequently, risk of disease. Sheet metal workers frequently use a cutting tool called aviation snips when fabricating and installing ductwork. A study found that twenty-three sheet metal workers used three different designs of aviation snips to make cuts in sheet metal at waist height and shoulder height. The study further found that work height had a greater effect on muscle activity and wrist posture than snip design.
	Effects on Productivity:	Improvements found in the newer snips include less space between the handles, soft grips and curved handles. Using a curved handle can help keep your wrist straight. A soft grip lowers the pressure on your hand and fngers. When the space between handles is less, you may be able to get a better grip on the tool. The Upright Snip™ by Midwest Tool and Cutlery can help keep your wrist straighter when working in confned areas or overhead. No pair of snips will work well for every task. Decide what the job requires and select the correct snips. Manufacturers make specific snips for left and right cuts, straight cuts, and wide or tight curved cuts. There are specifc snips for different gauges of sheet metal. Different snips are made to fit left- and right-handed workers. Pay attention to the manufacturer's specifcations. Manufacturers color-code snip handles for the type of cut they make— yellow for straight, green for right, and red for left. Use snips that fit both your hand and the job you do, either left-handed or right-handed. Always wear eye protection when using snips. Quality of Evidence
	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:	Where to Get It Midwest Tool and Cutlery Co., Sturgis, MI, www.midwestsnips.com Cooper Hand Tools, Apex, NC, www.cooperhandtools.com Equipment like that described here may be available from local retailers or rental companies. Approximate Cost The best snip for the job should not cost much more than other snips. Newer snips are often between $10-40.
	Additional Considerations:
	Sources:	Albers, James T., and Estill, Cheryl F. Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers. DHHS (NIOSH) Publications. March 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh. To view the Table of Contents for the Simple Solutions Document, please visit: http://www.cpwr.com/simple.html. Please send requests for copies of this publication to cdcinfo@cdc.gov, referencing document number 2007-122.