Scraper Handle:
Problem: |
Two Solutions: |
Long-handled metal floor scraper (used for
cleaning up dirt and mud) requires lots of
force to grip and to push. |
Attach an eight-inch bar
handle to top of scraper. |
|
|
Nothing to grip. |
Gives a better grip. |
Cannot comfortably be pushed with the
torso. |
Disperses contact force over
a larger area. |
What's Wrong With a Plain Shaft
Like a Broom Handle?
Dirt and mud packed on the floor of a work area can
be thick and heavy. It's hard to hold the handle tightly
enough to push as hard as you need to. If workers
lean into the scraper to use the whole force of their
bodies, it hurts when the end of the shaft jabs into
their stomachs.
How Is a Bar Handle Added?
You can use two hollow pipes (four- or five-inch-length
nipples), attached to the shaft with a pipe T fitting, or
you can weld an eight-inch length of pipe nipple directly
to the shaft. If the original shaft is made of wood,
this will mean replacing it with pipe as well. Use a ¾-
inch pipe shaft. Being hollow, the pipes will not make
the scraper overly heavy. Then wrap the nipples with
foam pipe insulation to cushion the handle.
Contact Information
This Tip Sheet was produced from material developed
by the Safety and Health Assessment and Research
for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State
Department of Labor and Industries
SHARP, Washington State Department of Labor and
Industries, PO Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504-4330.
Or visit http://www.wa.gov/lni/sharp/.
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