Developed by the UCSF Ergonomics Program
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and Simon Fraser University have teamed up with union contractors to develop a tool for overhead drilling. Drilling into concrete or metal ceilings is a strenuous task that carries risks of musculoskeletal disorders, falls, and exposure to silica dust. In order to reduce workplace hazards for construction workers in the electrical, pipe fitting, sheet metal, ironwork, and carpentry trades, we launched the Overhead Drilling Project. Over four years of designing, field-testing, and redesigning, have led to the development of a novel device for overhead drilling while standing on the ground. Throughout the project, experienced construction workers evaluated the tool for usability, productivity, and fatigue, and their feedback led to various improvements. The prototype is now in its fourth generation, and on-site tests have proven it faster, quieter, safer, and less tiring than standard overhead drilling practices.
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