THE ERGONOMIC GARDENER: HUMANTECH MEETS RADIUS GARDEN TOOLS

9/2/2011

For Immediate Release

Ann Arbor, MICH – Humantech, Inc. meets Radius® Garden Tools just in the nick of time.  Sky-high corn and tall sunflower stalks are just a few signs that harvest is near.  For some, gardening is a spring or summer activity, but for professional farmers or avid gardeners it is a year-long commitment.    According to the USDA Agricultural and Marketing Service, as of 2010 there has been a 16 percent increase of farmers markets operating within the United States.  The numbers continue to climb as people become more aware of all the health implications from pesticides and hormones in the produce we eat.  Organic and home-grown food may provide our insides with “whole” ingredients, but if we’re not careful, they could tear apart our outsides. 

Josh Kerst, Vice President and Certified Professional Ergonomist at Humantech, is in his fourth season using Radius Garden tools and swears by them.  Recently, he sat down with Bruce Baker, Founder of Radius Garden Tools, to talk about ergonomics and one of his favorite hobbies—gardening.  A short interview was conducted.   Watch it now.

“Gardening can be an ergonomic nightmare,” explains Baker.  “The constant stooping, plucking, digging, and bending for long periods of time can eventually wear out the body and cause discomfort.  If you have done any amount of gardening, you have felt it: sore wrists, low back pain, neck pain, or just all-around body aches.”  This is the discomfort that ignited former attorney Baker’s entrepreneurial spirit.

The idea came while Baker was sitting on an airplane heading to China.  After hearing how his business associate developed a gardening injury, it struck him: “Why not make gardening tools that don’t hurt you?”  His idea bloomed and Radius Garden was born.   

For those with a green thumb, gardening is not work, but a hobby—and hobbies should not hurt.  But, for many of us—green thumb or not—they do.  Kerst outlines some common things gardeners should do to prevent injuries.

Ergonomic Gardening Tips

All gardeners should know that having the right tools is key to maintaining the energy required to work outside and to remain injury-free. 

* To avoid lifting, rake leaves onto a canvas tarp.  When full, pull it to the desired location and unload it.
* Always use gloves (knee pads can be used too) to provide padding and to prevent cuts and scrapes.  Gloves should be form-fitting.  Thin gloves are preferred; too much padding will reduce grip strength and coordination.
* Use ergonomic tools.  But be aware that just because the tool is labeled “ergonomic” does not mean it is.  According to Bruce Baker, “If it feels good, it probably is.” 
* Pay attention to handle diameter, size, and weight.  Telescopic and pistol-grip handles require less energy to perform work; a curved handle, similar to the one used for Radius Garden's hand trowel, provides more leverage with less wrist stress because it is designed to fit the natural curve of the hand.
* Maintain tools by keeping them sharp and oiled.  A dull blade will require more effort and force and could lead to injury.

Keep Your Work in the “Comfort Zone”

According to Kerst, “All work should be kept in the comfort zone (as close to the body as possible) to eliminate or reduce unnecessary movements such as reaching, lifting, and extending.”  The comfort zone is similar to the baseball strike zone (knees to shoulders at roughly an arm’s reach distance away from the body).   “The farther you reach from the center of your body, the higher force you will experience,” explains Kerst. 

Maintain Neutral Body Position

Regardless of the task, ergonomics is the practice of fitting the job to the person.  Injuries occur when people begin to work outside their capacity.  Here are some ways to keep the work in the neutral state:

* Keep elbows below heart level as much as possible.  Use long-handled tools or take periodic breaks to keep your body in a comfortable position. 
* Avoid working with your thumbs pointing toward the ground.  This arm position “wings” your elbows out to the side, reducing your applied strength and adding stress to the body.
* Work with wrists in a neutral position: straight, in line with the forearm, and with thumbs up.  Remember to hold objects with a light grasp or grip.
* Avoid fine-motor repetitive movements such as pinching and pulling
* Try to limit your continuous extended reaches to fewer than 10 to 15 seconds. Take short breaks between segments to prevent injury and overexertion.   
* Minimize the time spent working with your head and neck in an extended position (looking up).  Take periodic breaks to avoid fatigue.

Finding ways to keep work in the comfort zone puts our work directly in front of us, where we are strongest, have the best dexterity and visual acuity, and can work in neutral postures, according to Kerst.  As Bruce Baker says, “Garden More, Hurt Less!”

For over 30 years, global companies have relied on Humantech for workplace improvements. By combining the science of ergonomics and our unique 30-Inch View®—where people, work, and environment intersect—we deliver practical solutions that impact safety, quality, and productivity. At Humantech, we believe people make productivity happen. For more information about our portfolio of products and services or the 30-Inch View, visit www.humantech.com.