Product-Ergonomic Evaluation of Pliers Handles Through Electromyographic and Subjective Methods

In a comparative investigation 8 diagonal cutting nippers were evaluated with regard to their ergonomic quality. By means of a mobile measuring system for the recording of peripheral-physiological data, the physiological strain of 4 muscles of the right hand-arm system was objectified with the help of surface electromyography. A special device facilitated the standardized execution of the tests and the determination of maximal force for the standardization of the electromyographic activity (EA). A specific, bipolar questionnaire allowed the subjective assessment, e.g., of the handle design and dimensions, of the shape of the arched handle contour, the slip-guard, and the hand suitability during hand perspiration as well as the assessment of 2-component handles. The objective data and the subjective evaluation allowed conclusions about the design criteria and about favorable and unfavorable variants of the assessed diagonal cutting nippers.