[Jewelry making - Article 00160] - Re: [Orchid] Ergonomics

[Lizzieq]

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    I have read just a few of the post in the ergonomics thread, so
    please forgive if I stray or repeat. Back pain has not been my
    problem, fortunately.  My bench is high enough that my head stays
    elevated and that seems to help. The ensuing problem is more
    aggravation to wrists and arms in general. Several years ago I had
    carpal tunnel surgery on one wrist and will need more extensive
    orthopedic work on the other wrist soon, due simply to pain from
    bone build-up in the joint. While the carpal tunnel work put me out
    of work for a while, the bone work in the other wrist will likely
    require much more time before a good "second hand" is available. So,
    I will not be able to do any but the simplest jobs. 

    I have often thought, "Look at that.they taught the kid to use third
    hand tweezers for all the work! He will never learn freehand
    control."  Now, I wonder if that third hand but certainly much
    slower process is what I should have been doing. Would it have
    helped or not? 

    It seems most injury I have developed comes from the "ring clamp"
    and working both hands in stone setting, mostly including bright
    cut, pave and channel work. That is my guess. In that case, the
    solution was simply not available in an easily usable form. Today,
    apparently it is in the form of pneumatic hammers to assist in all
    sorts of work requiring great pressure applied with precise control.
    That pneumatic assistance just might have saved my wrists and hands.
    I really do not know but suspect some of the present physical
    problems would not be the pain (literally) today if I had the
    machines available today. 

    I suggest that anyone who wants to continue at the bench research
    and invest in the best devices available to prevent bodily damage. 
    Unfortunately, once the damage has happened you often realize that
    damage "creped up on you" and you did not prevent it from happening. 

    After 30 years in the business, ergonomics is a relatively "new"
    term.  That is unfortunate. Also unfortunate is for the employed,
    that is, those who are not self-employed, the need for speed often
    outweighs the need for ergonomics. I have seen few employers who
    seriously take the need of the bench worker to heart. This includes
    everything from ergonomic tools, set-up and equipment to health safe
    dust collectors.  A previous employer agreed with me to replace the
    old 1940's buffer/collector with an efficient Handler device only
    after I proved to him how much gold he was losing!  The decision had
    nothing to do with health. Health was my goal and through business
    economics the change was made. Too bad it was not so easily (I say
    easily with tongue in cheek) done with ergonomic tools and bench
    set-ups. 

    You can purchase a watchmaker's bench from Rolex if you want..if you
    are a Rolex dealer. This wonderfully ergonomic bench was close to
    $2500 US when I last checked a few years ago. We can do the same
    with less money IF enough attention is paid to the real bodily needs
    of the bench worker. Those needs of concern for the bench worker are
    real and should be addressed properly. Some jewelry companies do
    address those needs and I tip my hat to them. Others.well, nuff said
    on that. 

Thanks for the good line of thought.
God Bless and Peace.      
TomDart.

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