What
can UltraTouch do for you? | Benefits
| Palm Button Comparison | Specifications
| Dimensions | Models
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UltraTouch
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Yes
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Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
A. Red – Ready to cycle
B. Green – Cycle initiated
Yes
Yes
Yes
110 VAC – 2 pole or 4 pole configuration
24 VDC – 2 pole or 4 pole configuration
Yes
A. Electrically
B. Mechanically
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
*Requires
two UltraTouch modules spaced and mounted in accordance with current OSHA
and ANSI standards. OSHA and ANSI standards also require machines to have
"control reliable" control circuitry.
Core Ergonomic Control Methods - Examples
From the Department of Labor & Industries
|
Hazard
|
Ergonomic Control Methods
|
| AWKWARD POSTURES | |
| Working with hand(s) above the head or the elbow(s) above the shoulder(s), more than 4 hours total per day | • Raise the worker up with elevated work platforms or ladders • Make tools longer with articulating arms or extension handles • Bring the work down and tilt it on its side for better access • Provide adjustability where possible for multiple users • Design reach distance for the shortest worker • Provide arm supports • Use sloping platforms with overhead conveyers to adjust for variable worker heights |
| Repetitively raising the hand(s) above the head or the elbow(s) above the shoulder(s) more than once per minute, more than 4 hours total per day | • Limit overhead storage to infrequently used items • Raise the worker up with elevated work platforms or ladders • Make tools longer with articulating arms or extension handles • Bring the work down and tilt it on its side for better access • Provide adjustability where possible for multiple users • Design reach distance for the shortest worker |
| Working with the neck bent more than 45°(without support or the ability to vary posture), more than 4 hours total per day | • Raise and tilt objects being viewed to keep neck more upright • Use magnifiers when working on objects with the hands in order to keep the arms and shoulders down • Support the head with a chin/forehead cradle. • Use monitor arms or stackers to raise up monitors • Use video or mirror systems to view objects or locations that are difficult to see (dental/medical/surgical tasks, fork trucks) |
| Working with the back bent forward (without support or the ability to vary posture) more than 30 degrees for more than 4 hours per day, or more than 45° for more than 2 hours per day | • Raise and tilt the work to provide better access • Use a sit/stand stool to lower the worker • Make tools longer with articulating arms or extension handles • Alternate between bending, sitting, kneeling and squatting • Use a chest pad to support the weight of the upper body • Locate objects well within arms’ reach • Use body carts for ground level work |
Squatting more than 4 hours total per day |
• Raise the work to provide better access • Make tools longer with articulating arms or extension handles • Alternate between bending, sitting, kneeling and squatting • Use body carts for ground level work • Use short portable stools for ground level work |
Kneeling more than 4 hours total per day |
• Wear knee pads • Raise the work to provide better access • Make tools longer with articulating arms or extension handles • Alternate between bending, sitting, kneeling and squatting |
| HIGH HAND FORCE | |
Pinching an unsupported object(s) weighing 2 or more lbs. per hand or pinching with a force of 4 or more pounds per hand, combined with highly repetitive motions for more than 3 hours total per day |
• Redesign hand-tool interface for use of a power grip • Reduce weight of tool or object • Use clamps or vices to eliminate forceful pressing or pinches • Use fasteners requiring minimal pinch force (e.g. plastic rather than metal) • Use fasteners that can be inserted by tool |
| Pinching an unsupported object(s) weighing 2 or more lbs. per hand or pinching with a force of 4 or more pounds per hand, combined with wrists bent in flexion 30° or more or in extension 45° or more for more than 3 hours total per day | • Redesign hand-tool interface for use of a power grip • Reduce hand-object interface to reduce slipperiness • Reduce weight of tool or object • Change tool, work surface orientation, or worker location to reduce bent wrist postures |
Pinching an unsupported object(s) weighing 2 or more lbs. per hand or pinching with a force of 4 or more pounds per hand for more than 4 hours total per day |
• Redesign hand-tool interface for use of a power grip • Reduce weight of tool or object • Rotate jobs between workers • Use clamps or vices to eliminate forceful pressing or pinches • Use fasteners requiring minimal pinch force (e.g. plastic rather than metal) • Use fasteners that can be inserted by tool |
| Gripping an unsupported object(s) weighing 10 or more lbs. per hand or gripping with a force of 10 or more pounds per hand, combined with highly repetitive motions for more than 3 hours total per day | • Reduce weight of tool or object. • Use balancers, adjustable fixtures, articulating arms to hold handled items or minimize weight held in the hand • Use two hands rather than one • Alternate between hands • Sharpen cutting tools to reduce force requirements during use • Rotate between tasks |
| Gripping an unsupported object(s) weighing 10 or more lbs. per hand or gripping with a force of 10 or more pounds per hand, combined with wrists bent in flexion 30° or more or in extension 45° or more or in ulnar deviation 30° or more for more than 3 hours total per day | • Reduce weight of tool or object. • Change tool, work surface orientation, or worker location to reduce bent wrist postures • Use balancers, adjustable fixtures, articulating arms to hold handled items or minimize weight held in the hand • Use two hands rather than one • Alternate between hands • Sharpen cutting tools to reduce force requirements during use |
| Gripping an unsupported object(s) weighing 10 or more lbs. per hand or gripping with a force of 10 or more pounds per hand, more than 4 hours total per day | Reduce weight of tool or object • Rotate jobs between workers • Use balancers, adjustable fixtures, articulating arms to hold handled items or minimize weight held in the hand • Use two hands rather than one • Alternate between hands • Sharpen cutting tools to reduce force requirements during use • Preventive maintenance of tools to reduce high hand forces • Use bench mounted adapters to provide more leverage |
| HIGHLY REPETITIVE MOTIONS | |
| Using the same motion with little or no variation every few seconds (excluding keying activities) more than 6 hours total per day | • Rotate jobs with other workers, varying the types of motion • Use job enlargement, increase the number of tasks performed by the worker, varying the types of movement • Reduced the speed of the motions if possible • Use mechanical assists • Use multifunction tools |
| Using the same motion with little or no variation every few seconds (excluding keying activities) combined with wrists bent in flexion 30o or more or in extension 45° or more or in ulnar deviation 30° or more, and high, forceful exertions with the hand(s), more than 2 hours total per day | • Re-orient or move objects into positions where bent wrists
are eliminated • Rotate jobs with other workers, varying the types of motion • Use tools (with power grip) if exertions are required • Provide jig/vice to hold parts reducing forceful grasping and allowing the use of two hands • Use mechanical assists • Use multifunction tools |
| Intensive keying for more than 7 hours total per day, or combined with awkward postures for more than 4 hours total per day | • Enlarge the job to include tasks other than keying • Provide equipment to reduce awkward postures such as wrist rests, arm rests, adjustable keyboard shelves • Rearrange workstation to eliminate awkward postures e.g. raise monitor, lower keyboard, bring mouse closer to keyboard • Utilize voice-recognition software • Utilize software macros that automate repetitive keystrokes • Schedule breaks |
| REPEATED IMPACT | |
| Using the hand (heel/base of palm) as a hammer more than once per minute more than 2 hours total per day | • Use rubber mallets, bean bags, or other padded tools to
strike with instead of the palm • Press objects into place using levers, or hydraulic or pneumatic tools • Redesign assembly processes to avoid the need to pound parts in by hand • Use viscoeleastic padded palm pads to reduce impact • Cover sharp or hard objects with pads • Use different types of palm button guards such as light sensors for manual activation of equipment |
| Using the knee as a hammer more than once per minute more than 2 hours total per day | • Use tools that don't require knee kicks, such as power stretchers
for carpet laying, or long handled mallets. • Press objects into place using levers, or hydraulic or pneumatic tools. • Relocate knee switches so that the thigh or the foot presses them. • Redesign processes to avoid the need to pound parts in by knee |
| HEAVY, FREQUENT or AWKWARD LIFTING | |
| Heavy lifting | • Reduce weight of load • Increase weight of load so that it requires mechanical assist • Reduce the capacity of the container • Use slides, gravity chutes to eliminate lifting • Use mechanical assist such as overhead hoist, manipulator, vacuum lift, pneumatic balancer, forklift • Use telescoping extendible conveyors with powered belts that reach deep into trailers • Reduce the horizontal distance of the load away from the body by reducing the size of the packaging • Reduce the horizontal distance of the load away from the body by removing barriers, obstacles that make access to the object difficult • Team lift the object with two or more workers • Improve layout of work process so the need to move materials is minimized • Provide handholds which increase lifting capability up to 15% |
| Frequent lifting | • Use mechanical assist such as overhead hoist, manipulator,
vacuum lift, pneumatic balancer, forklift • Reorganize work method to eliminate repeated handling of the same object • Rotate workers to jobs with light or no manual handling • Use slides, gravity chutes to eliminate lifting • Use mobile storage racks to avoid unnecessary loading and unloading |
| Awkward lifting | • Redesign workstation layout to eliminate trunk twisting
by locating objects within arm’s reach • Design workstation with adjustable heights to eliminate bent forward posture when lifting • Eliminate the use of deep shelves that require a worker to bend and reach for objects. • Store objects at 30” off the floor • Provide sturdy walk-up ladder with handrails to access stored parts on high shelves/racks. • Provide rigid containers to better control the load |
| HAND-ARM VIBRATION | |
| Segmental vibration | • Select power tools with lower vibration emission levels • Provide regular maintenance to eliminate vibrations caused by imbalanced mechanical parts e.g. grinding wheels • Increased tool weight could reduce vibration transmitted to the hands, though cautions should be taken not to introduce other risk factors • Using balancers, isolators, damping materials, articulating arms, vertical suspension, and counter weighting to reduce grip requirements and provide an alternative transmission route for vibrational energy • Use battery operated rather than air powered tools where possible • Isolate vibration between source and hand by providing handles with a well designed mass-spring system or anti-vibration gloves • Tools should have a high power to weight ratio, have low torque with a cutoff rather than a slip-clutch mechanism and have handles with a non-slip surface to reduce the need to grip tightly. • Reduce vibration exposure duration |
Note: This table provides examples of how the core ergonomics principles can be used to reduce exposure to musculoskeletal hazards. These examples are a selection from the rulemaking file. |
|
Chart Courtesy of:
The Department of Labor & Industries
Environmental Health and Safety 12/02
Occupational Health and Safety Office (206) 543-7388
For detailed technical information on the MicroGuard® Safety Light Curtain and other Pinnacle Systems safety products download Installation Manuals.
To speak to a sales representative in the United States, please call (800) 569-7697.
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