Information on this page is drawn from "Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers" published by NIOSH
The Problem
Frequent use of a wire brush to clean or ream pipes, grates, and other building materials can strain your hands, wrists, forearms, and elbows. Using the brush may be light work, but you must bend your wrist and use fast pulling, pushing, or rotating motions. If you do this work often, you can be at risk of a serious muscle or joint injury.
Your chance of developing a serious injury increases when you have to apply high hand force to the brush or use a pinch grip to hold it. If you wear loose-fitting, thick gloves, the brush may be harder to hold and require more force.
One Solution
Place the wire brush in the chuck of a battery-powered or corded screw gun or screwdriver. The power tool will eliminate the repeated hand, wrist, and forearm motions and may improve your grip.
How It Works
The power tool rotates the brush for you. Choose a power tool with a soft, non-slip handle (plastic or rubber covering). The handle should be large enough to fit your whole hand. It should not have sharp edges or ridges. You will need less hand strength to grip this type of handle than to grip a brush. The smaller handles on manual wire brushes must be gripped with a few fingers, rather than with the full hand. This requires more muscle force.
There will be less localized pressure on your hand because the handle won't dig into your skin. There also will be fewer rapid movements of your hand, wrist, and forearm. The rotation of the power tool replaces the motions necessary with the manual wire brush.
Many power tools can help keep your wrist straight. Some have handles that change from in-line to pistol-grip (two-way handles). These prevent awkward wrist positions because the tool bends—not your wrist. Or, depending on the location of the work, you can use a power tool with either a pistol grip or inline handle, whichever best reduces wrist bending in each situation.
Benefits for the Worker and Employer
Using a power tool with the wire brush should result in less strain on your hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. It will also improve productivity because the work is faster than using a brush by hand.
You do need access to a power source. This may be an electrical outlet or generator to run a corded tool or to charge the batteries in a cordless one.
Approximate Cost
Professional-quality tools can be purchased at most hardware, home improvement, and commercial building supply stores. Prices vary and you should shop around before purchasing one. If you plan to use the tool often, consider purchasing a heavy-duty contractor or professional-quality model. For professional models, a corded screw gun runs $125-150. A battery-powered screw gun (14.4-18 volts) is $180-250. A battery-powered screwdriver (2.4-3.4 volts) is $100-125.Wire brushes are available as accessories from many power tool manufacturers.
For More Information
- Products related to this solution are described at CPWR's Supplement to NIOSH's Simple Solutions.
- Local contractor tool and equipment suppliers or rental companies may be another source of information on products.
- For general information on this solution, check CPWR's Construction Solutions Database and eLCOSH - Electronic Library of Occupational Safety and Health.
