

Solution: Standing Fastening Tool

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	Description:	A stand-up fastening tool, or power-actuated fastening tool with an extension shaft, is an engineering control that may help reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) associated with squatting, stooping, and kneeling while installing flooring. It consist of a triggered tool with a long shaft that can be used to secure subflooring, false floors, and decking; to construct concrete forms; and to do other wood-to-wood jobs. This tool may be also applicable for drywall and some metal-to-metal work. Screws for these guns come on easy-loading, collated strips that are self-feeding. They load without requiring you to bend down. Some models have an extension that can be removed, allowing the screw gun to be used by itself for walls. Other models, such as the Senco DuraSpin™, are all one unit. A similar powder-actuated fastening tool with a stand-up extended handle can be used to fasten metal track to concrete decks for interior steel framing, to install plywood onto concrete as a substrate for wood floors, to attach lumber to concrete and masonry, and to make steel-to-steel connections. These provide a fast, efficient fastening method that can be used independent of weather conditions. They use a .27-caliber explosive charge to drive their fasteners. The fasteners are made from hardened steel and have a knurled shaft to anchor them securely in the base material. Pre-drilling holes is not necessary. The driving depth can be adjusted for varying jobsite conditions. More Detail
	Risks Addressed:	High compression forces occur in the spine while stooping, and sustained or repeated flexion of the spine may decrease the stability of the lower back. Decreased stability and higher compression forces can lead to injury and low back pain. Standing fastening tools allow the worker to keep a neutral position of the spine and knees and decrease the probability of injury.
	How Risks are Reduced:	By standing while working, the spine and knees will remain in a neutral position, minimizing strain and muscle fatigue. Many stand-up tools have adjustable lengths to cater to the workers' different heights allowing more comfortable postures.
	Quality of Evidence (Risk Reduction):	Safety and health experts believe there is a risk reduction.
	Quality of Evidence Explanation (Risk Reduction):	Biomechanical research shows that high compression forces occur in the spine while stooping, and that sustained or repeated flexion of the spine may decrease the stability of the lower back and increase the risk of fatigue, leaving the back more vulnerable to injury. While there is considerable research shows that working in stooped, kneeling and squatting postures causes low back disorders, the research mostly focuses on those postures in combination with other risk factors such as bending or twisting or heavy loads. The literature combining stooped, squatting or kneeling postures with load handling shows rapid and severe spinal damage. There is much less in the literature regarding the health effects of these postures in an unloaded situation - that is, stooping without lifting. However, safety and health experts believe that it is important to avoid prolonged and repeat forward bending of the back (stooping) even in the absence of the other risk factors for low back disorders.
	Effects on Productivity:	Studies have shown that autofeed stand-up screw guns are about twice as fast at placing screws as traditional screw guns.
	Quality of Evidence (Effects on Productivity):	Manufacturers or vendors have reported an increase in productivity.
	Quality of Evidence Explanation (Effects on Productivity):	Part of the claimed productivity gain may be due to the auto-feed of fasteners, and part may be due to the erect posture of the workers.
	Return on Investment:	To calculate the return on investment (ROI) for your specific application, please visit our Return on Investment Calculator. While a specific ROI example has not been developed for this particular solution, the ROI Calculator provides a useful tool and guidance on how to generate your own on investment analysis.
	Availability:	DeWalt Quik Drive QD2000SDS For purchasing information visit http://dewaltquickdrive.trueonsale.info/2011/11/23/quik-drive-qd2000sds-1-12-3-self-feed-screwgun/ Senco DuraSpin DS325-AC Collated Screwgun For purchasing information visit www.nailgundepot.com or contact 1-888-720-7892 or sales@nailgundepot.com Quik Drive™ Auto-Feed Screw Driving Systems For purchasing information visit http://www.strongtie.com or contact 1-800-999-5099 or by e-mail
	Additional Considerations:	Extended handled tools are very effective for work at floor level, but may introduce awkward postures when used for waist level tasks where a standard tool without an extended handle would be more appropriate.
	Hazards Addressed:	Roofing Install roof sheathing Stooped postures
	Sources:	Albers, James T., and Estill, Cheryl F.. Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2007-122. 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 document to cdcinfo@cdc.gov, referencing document number 2007-122.