Low Vibration Hand Held Tools for Safety and Health

Over a million workers in the U.S. are routinely exposed to vibration from hand-held tools.Prolonged use of these tools causes Raynaud's Disease or Vibration-induced White Finger. For a varietyof reasons, the hand-held tools did not get the benefit of technological advances. This project willconduct much neglected research in hand-held tools through design and development of a prototypechipping tool. Three innovations are offered to develop necessary technology which will be translatedinto a prototype through mechanical design: l. a viable oscillator, 2. a novel construction gradecomposite material and, 3. a mode de-coupling joint design. The feasibility of a low vibration oscillatorhas already been demonstrated and the proposed work will devise a viable system through optimization.The elements transmitting impact energy will be studied critically to understand the mechanism leakingvibration to the body. Change of frequency spectrum and efficient cutting mechanisms will alleviatenoise and vibration. Based on the findings, a prototype chipping tool will be fabricated and itsperformance and vibration levels will be tested. The demonstration of a tool with low vibration and noisewill help raise capital for subsequent mass production and marketing. The construction and heavymachinery industry desperately needs low vibration tools to reduce worker injuries and related liabilities.CDC research support through a small business is a viable means to generate the needed technologicalinnovation for demonstrating the feasibility of a low vibration tool for control and prevention ofmusculoskeletal disease.