Marine Fabricator July/August 2024 - 24

" A lot of times,
shops don't give
their employees
the proper tools
they need....You
have to make
sure everyone
is properly
equipped because
safety is such an
important issue. "
-Kat Maisto,
Fairwinds Canvas LLC
Tricks for tough tools
" Anything that requires a wide grip
and therefore strength can be a challenge, "
says Mahle. " Even the PresN-Snap
tools that we have need a really
wide grip to close. If you're doing
a lot of snaps, those are hard on your
hands. I have a way of using them
where I don't actually close them
with my hand. I put the lever on the
bench and get it lined up, and I use
my whole body and push down. I'm
a strong person but even so, if there's
a smarter way to do it, I'd rather do
it that way. Anything you can do to
minimize the repetition on your body,
the better. "
Krisha Plauché, owner of Onboard
Interiors & Hood Canvas in Marblehead,
Mass., agrees that her Pres-NSnap
tool is one of the most challenging
tools in the shop. " It's small, but
it's quite a bugger-it's like my kryptonite.
It's really designed for a bigger
hand. If you only have to do one or
two holes, it's not a problem. But if
you have 50 on a boat and you're going
through four layers of fabric, it's
really tough. What we like to do is use
two people on an install, and we will literally
take turns. It's a lot easier when
you are working as a team. "
However, it's not always just tools that
are tough to work with. For Plauché,
large cushions can be tough, too. " We
have these giant cushions, and we will
have one person on the boat and the other
will lift it up to them, " she says. " It's
important to make lifting a two-person
job. It's not so much the weight as the
sheer size when you're lifting them onto
a ladder or down a gangway and then
onto a launch and to a boat. "
" You really need careful processes, especially
for Iifting things, " says Plauché.
" You're asking for trouble if you don't
do it right. "
Importance of fitness
Paying attention to physical fitness
throughout the workday is critical, according
to those interviewed for this article.
" I engage my core at all times, " says
Jen Jarland, who runs Canvas Girl in
Key West, Fla. " I'm really aware of my
body so I'm not straining the one muscle
SAFER LIFTING AND MATERIAL HANDLING
L
ifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of
injury in the workplace. Here are some smart lifting
practices to prevent injuries:
* Use mechanical means (e.g., hand trucks, pushcarts,
etc.) when possible.
* Always push rather than pull.
* Keep loads as close to the body as possible and
do not twist while lifting, carrying or setting down a
load. Nose, shoulders, hips and toes should all be
facing the same direction.
* Minimize reaching.
* Bend at the knees, not at the hips.
* Get help when needed. Do not lift or carry things
you don't feel comfortable with, no matter how light
the load.
* Plan ahead for all parts of the lift: lifting, carrying
and setting down.
* Try to use proper handholds while lifting. If an item
does not have a good handhold, think of ways to
remedy this, such as placing the item in a container
with good handholds or creating a safe and proper
handhold with an appropriate tool.
Source: ehs.unc.edu/topics/ergonomics/lifting-andmaterial-handling
24
Marine Fabricator | July/Aug 2024
http://ehs.unc.edu/topics/ergonomics/lifting-and
Marine Fabricator July/August 2024

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