Affiliations: [a] Center for Industrial Ergonomics, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA | [b] University Division, Ministry of Education, Box 293, Helsinki FIN-00171, Finland | [c] Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA | [d] Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Kwandong University, YangYang, Kangwondo, Korea 215-800 | [e] Institute of Safety Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Waldemar Karwowski, Center for Industrial Ergonomics, Warnock Street, Lutz Hall, Room 445, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. Tel.: +1 502 852 7173; Fax: +1 502 852 7397; E-mail: karwowski@louisville.edu
Abstract: This study examined the effect of hammer design parameters on task performance, operator physiological responses, perceived rate of exertion, task completion time, task accuracy, and user preference for hammering in the vertical (wall) and horizontal (bench) surface orientations. Two hammers used in the study differed with respect to their weight and softness of the handle grip. Ten male subjects participated in the laboratory experiment. The results showed that hammer design differences affect hammering task performance and perceived physical exertion. In general, the horizontally-oriented hammering task was faster than vertically-oriented hammering. However, task accuracy (i.e. number of nails hammered straight) was not statistically different with respect to either hammering orientation or hammer design. Subjects identified handle design, weight, and hammer mass distribution as critical factors that affect hammering task performance.
