An experiment was performed to study the effects of hand-tool design factors and methods of tool use upon tool force generation and loading of the back. Forty novice and experienced subjects were tested on their ability to drive a spike with a railroad spike maul. Method of tool use affected the spike-driving performance of novice subjects, whereas tool striking surface area influenced the ability of experienced trackmen to drive spikes. Method of tool use also affected the components of spine loading. Tool force generation was considered as a function of spine loading indices to create efficiency measures. Efficiency was used to evaluate the cumulative trauma effects of the hand tool.
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