At Barr Brothers, we are very aware of how non-ergonomic tools can make you ineffective, and even cause you physical harm. Therefore, we have developed our ergonomic handles, designed to make the job as easy as possible on your hands and wrists.

For a more in-depth look on ergonomics,
please see our Guide to Practical Ergonomics.

Symptoms of stress and/or damage include:

  • Soreness, pain and discomfort
  • Numbing, tingling sensations, "pins and needles"
  • Popping, cracking noises in joints
  • Redness, swelling
  • Weakness, clumsiness
  • Limited range of motion
  • Stiffness in joints
  • "Burning" sensations
  • Need to shake out of hands and arms
  • Need to frequently massage hands and arms
Holding meat between your thumb and forefinger, in a so called "pinch grip", may cause one or more of the symptoms mentioned above. Using a hook to hold the meat allows you to use a power grip, and also keeps your fingers further away from sharp knives, etc.

The Open Grip Hook has no hook shank between your fingers, which means no breakage of gloves between the fingers.

All hooks are made of cutlery grade stainless steel, hardened to a spring temper. All plastic handles are bright orange polypropylene, textured for a solid grip.

Industry-by-industry comparisons show that the meat industry has high rates of cumulative trauma. Slaughter facilities (including cut and fabrication) top the list, and the Prepared Meats facilities are ranked sixth.

Reasons for the large difference between meatpacking (slaughter facilities) and other industries include:

  • more exposure to a combination of ergonomic risk factors than in other industries,
  • more labor intensive work (less automation) than other industries, and
  • higher levels of awareness and reporting among packinghouse workers.
Evidence from other countries indicates that high rates of cumulative trauma in meatpacking holds true internationally.
Throughout the industrialized world in the past few years, there has been a sudden increase in the recorded rates of job-related cumulative trauma. This increase in the United States is shown in the following graph:

There are two major reasons for this increase:

  1. An increase in awareness and reporting. In other words, employees have always had problems with cumulative trauma, but only recently have these begun to be recorded.
  2. Changes in technology. Many jobs have evolved to the point where an employee may only do a few simple motions, but do them repetitively -- often thousands of times per hour -- without any change or variation in the entire workday. Thus, the kinds of conditions which can lead to cumulative trauma have become more widespread.
Discussions with retired meatpacking employees make clear that cumulative trauma has existed in the meat industry for decades (this is also true for most other industries), but was accepted as part of the job and not reported.

It is a matter of debate whether actual rates are higher or lower now than previously. On the one hand, much mechanization has been introduced in the industry which has reduced exertion. On the other, many jobs have evolved with a very narrow division of labor and become highly repetitive.

RISK FACTORS
To prevent wrist disorders, the risk factors in any particular task need to be identified and addressed one by one:
RISK FACTORS
PREVENTION
Repetition: The number of wrist, hand or finger manipulations per day. Reduce the number of motions or smooth the motions.
Force: The amount of grip force or finger pressure. Reduce the exertion needed to complete the task.
Posture: The degree to which the wrist is bent, or the percentage of time the wrist is bent. Design tasks, equipment and tools to keep the wrist in a natural or "neutral" position.
Direct pressure on palm: Any pressure on the palm or Carpal Tunnel. Improve tool and equipment design to eliminate the pressure, or provide cushioning material.
Vibration: Exposure to vibrating tools or equipment. Isolate the hand from the vibration.
Cold: Exposure to cold. Provide insulation.
Important considerations in understanding these risk factors are:
  • The more factors involved, the greater the possibility of developing cumulative trauma.
  • Conversely; if any or all of these factors can be reduced or eliminated, the risk of a problem can be lessened.
  • Not all employees exposed to these factors will be affected. That is why the term "risk" is used -- the risk of getting a disorder may be higher or lower depending upon the exposure, but it's not a guarantee.
  • The levels of exposure (how many motions and at what levels of force) which can trigger a disorder are not yet known. Moreover, precise measurements of these factors can be difficult.

10 Principles of Ergonomics
Engineering changes to:
Make jobs more comfortable Reduce repetitive motions
Maintain "neutral" posture:
straight wrists, elbows in, straight back & neck		 Reduce exertion
Avoid direct pressure on wrists or body Improve heights and reaches
Avoid standing on hard surfaces Provide adjustability in work posture
Isolate from cold and vibration Provide good lighting

For a more in-depth look on ergonomics,
please see our Guide to Practical Ergonomics.