Anyone who does their own home improvements in the house and garden is sure to know the aches and pains in the spine or arm muscles and joints next day: the unusual activity and also unsuitable tools quickly take their toll. Many skilled craftsmen have to use manual tools such as screwdrivers and pliers as an integral part of their daily work so that chronic strains and pain can even become an occupational illness. This can be avoided by using tools with an ergonomic handle. The Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) has now for the first time awarded the AGR seal of approval to screwdrivers and pliers made by Wiha.
A good handle is what counts in an ergonomic screwdriver
A screwdriver must lie well in the hand. If it doesn't, working with it won't be efficient. Standard screwdrivers often have a wide range of handle lengths, depending on whether they are to be used for smaller or larger screws. However, in ergonomic terms this is a design flaw, as handles that are too large or too small will no longer fit properly in the hand. As a result, more strength is needed when working. The incorrect posture adopted to exert this excessive strain not only causes tension and pain in the hands: the effects are also extended to the arms, shoulders and even the back. To avoid this, the screwdriver has to be part of an overall ergonomic concept. The Wiha screwdrivers have special handles in four different sizes. The narrower handles are designed for precise working while the wider ones can be used for applying greater strength. As a special feature, the handles are ergonomically shaped and made from a special combination of materials so that they lie very firmly in the hand and permit controlled working without slipping. The materials are coordinated specially to various kinds of work.
Pliers handles to protect the hands and back
What distinguishes ergonomic pliers from standard pliers? First and foremost, the pliers must have an angled handle so that the wrist joint can stay straight when working! Relieving the pressure on the wrist in this way helps to prevent incorrect posture such as hunching the shoulders with resulting strain in the shoulders and neck. At the same time, the worker's strength is applied more efficiently to the tool. Wiha's Inomic pliers handle concept not only offers this kind of angled "pistol grip" but also has a slip guard and a locking mechanism, and is made of an ingenious material mix with ergonomically shaped soft plastic in the pressure-sensitive area and fibreglass-reinforced plastic for the body of the tool. This protects the locomotor system and prevents ailments even when used in the long term.
AGR seal of approval for screwdrivers and pliers by Wiha
The concepts of the screwdriver series "SoftFinish", "SoftFinish electric", "SoftFinish ESD" and "MicroFinish" and Inomic pliers by Wiha also convinced the AGR's committee of independent medical experts. In November 2015 the AGR therefore awarded hand tools the AGR seal of approval as being "particularly back-friendly" for the very first time.
About the Campaign for Healthier Backs and the AGR seal of approval
For meanwhile 20 years now, the Campaign for Healthier Backs has been dedicated to the prevention and therapy of endemic backache. One important aspect of its work is to award the AGR seal of approval "certified and recommended". The seal of approval is awarded to everyday products that have been classified as particularly back-friendly by a multidisciplinary committee of independent medical experts. More information materials and a list of current brochures and books can be found online at: www.agr-ev.de/patientenmedien.
In brief
The Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) has certified hand tools with the AGR seal of approval for the first time. The ergonomic handle concepts of the screwdrivers and pliers by Wiha permit efficient, ergonomic working and have therefore been classified as "particularly back-friendly" by the AGR.
A good handle is what counts in an ergonomic screwdriver
A screwdriver must lie well in the hand. If it doesn't, working with it won't be efficient. Standard screwdrivers often have a wide range of handle lengths, depending on whether they are to be used for smaller or larger screws. However, in ergonomic terms this is a design flaw, as handles that are too large or too small will no longer fit properly in the hand. As a result, more strength is needed when working. The incorrect posture adopted to exert this excessive strain not only causes tension and pain in the hands: the effects are also extended to the arms, shoulders and even the back. To avoid this, the screwdriver has to be part of an overall ergonomic concept. The Wiha screwdrivers have special handles in four different sizes. The narrower handles are designed for precise working while the wider ones can be used for applying greater strength. As a special feature, the handles are ergonomically shaped and made from a special combination of materials so that they lie very firmly in the hand and permit controlled working without slipping. The materials are coordinated specially to various kinds of work.
Pliers handles to protect the hands and back
What distinguishes ergonomic pliers from standard pliers? First and foremost, the pliers must have an angled handle so that the wrist joint can stay straight when working! Relieving the pressure on the wrist in this way helps to prevent incorrect posture such as hunching the shoulders with resulting strain in the shoulders and neck. At the same time, the worker's strength is applied more efficiently to the tool. Wiha's Inomic pliers handle concept not only offers this kind of angled "pistol grip" but also has a slip guard and a locking mechanism, and is made of an ingenious material mix with ergonomically shaped soft plastic in the pressure-sensitive area and fibreglass-reinforced plastic for the body of the tool. This protects the locomotor system and prevents ailments even when used in the long term.
AGR seal of approval for screwdrivers and pliers by Wiha
The concepts of the screwdriver series "SoftFinish", "SoftFinish electric", "SoftFinish ESD" and "MicroFinish" and Inomic pliers by Wiha also convinced the AGR's committee of independent medical experts. In November 2015 the AGR therefore awarded hand tools the AGR seal of approval as being "particularly back-friendly" for the very first time.
About the Campaign for Healthier Backs and the AGR seal of approval
For meanwhile 20 years now, the Campaign for Healthier Backs has been dedicated to the prevention and therapy of endemic backache. One important aspect of its work is to award the AGR seal of approval "certified and recommended". The seal of approval is awarded to everyday products that have been classified as particularly back-friendly by a multidisciplinary committee of independent medical experts. More information materials and a list of current brochures and books can be found online at: www.agr-ev.de/patientenmedien.
In brief
The Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) has certified hand tools with the AGR seal of approval for the first time. The ergonomic handle concepts of the screwdrivers and pliers by Wiha permit efficient, ergonomic working and have therefore been classified as "particularly back-friendly" by the AGR.
