PIALA, AISEL GRACE FRANCISCO March 17, 2020

BSIE-2
PART I. MIDTERM EXAM

5. In a small manufacturing plant, the soldering iron shown here is used to solder connections
on a large vertical panel. Several musculoskeletal injuries have been reported on this job over
the last year in addition to many operator complaints. In general, it seems that
a. It is difficult to see the point of application when using this tool.

b. The operators are gripping the tool unnecessarily tightly.

c. The power cord tends to get entangled.

d. Operators complain about wrist pain.

Redesign the soldering iron to eliminate the problems outlined above. Point out the ergonomic or
other special features that have been incorporated into the design.

SOLUTION:

One of the most important requisites in tool design is keeping a straight alignment of the wrist
while the tool is being used to avoid fatigue due to abduction and reduce the risk of cumulative
trauma disorder. The amount of stress supporting the tissues and medial nerve extends when a
person's wrist is bent. One step towards decreasing CTDs (Cumulative Trauma Disorder) is to
redesign the soldering iron tool to avoid bending of the wrist following the ergonomic principle in
tool use and design “bend the tool, not the wrists”.

Bent-handle soldering iron

The redesigned soldering iron which is now a bent-handle soldering iron has a flared handle that
can be used while keeping the wrist straight and provides a comfortable finger and thumb stop
to reduce grip forces and prevent the hand tool from slipping in, also it helps in reducing wrist
variation to soldering wires.
7. The worker shown below is driving 4 screws into a panel with a powered driver. His
production quota is 2,300 panes per 8-h shift. What specific ergonomic problems are found o n
this job?

For each problem:

(a) specify an ergonomics improvement that would correct the problem and

(b) provide a specific work design principle to support this methods change.

SOLUTION:

(a) The worker is showing an improper posture and handling of a power tool. Based on
ergonomic considerations, the handling of this powered driver used by the worker should be in a
pistol grip type since it is preferable for vertical surfaces at about waist height and will put the
worker's wrist in a neutral posture which is the desirable healthy posture of the wrist. Also, the
pistol grip is helpful where the force is exerted in a straight line in the same direction as the
aligned forearm and wrist since the force must be applied horizontally. The worker is in an
inconvenient posture which may cause fatigue, distress, and pain if maintain in a long period of
time. So, the worker must allow the powered driver to do the work so that he can stand straight
and use the tool with elbows near to his body.

(b) Specified Work Design principle supporting the changes of methods: