Biomechanical Evaluation of Cutting and Crimping Tasks in the Electric Power Industry

The work of underground utility workers at electrical power utilities is considered to be one of the most essential requirements in our society because the job involves restoring electricity to customers who have lost power. Cutting cables and crimping connectors is physically strenuous works that can result in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as lateral epicondylitis in the elbow and rotator cuff tendonitis in the shoulder. Currently, workers use conventional manual tools to cut cable and crimp connectors. Anecdotally, battery-powered tools appear to substantially reduce the high muscular exertions required by underground workers to cut cable and press connectors. However, there have been no quantitative biomechanical studies conducted that demonstrated battery-powered tools reduce risk factors of MSDs for underground electric workers. The objective of this study is to measure the muscular force of the flexor digitorum superficialis, deltoid, latissimus dorsi, and erector spinae required while cutting cables and crimping connectors using both the manual tools and battery-powered tools. The results obtained can provide recommendations to other electric power utilities to reduce the occurrence of MSDs of the underground utility workers