Avoid static muscle loading. Reduce both the weight and size of the tool. Do not raise or extend elbows when working with heavy tools. Provide counter balance support devices for larger, heavier tools. Avoid stress on soft tissues.
Stress concentrations result from poorly designed tools that exert pressure on the palms or fingers.
Examples include short-handled pliers and tools with finger grooves that do not fit the worker's hand. Reduce grip force requirements. The greater the effort to maintain control of a hand tool, the higher the potential for injury. A compressible gripping surface rather than hard plastic should be used. Whenever possible, select tools that use a full-hand power grip rather than a precision finger grip.