Vamp's Ergonomic Study for Carvers (survey available, just pm me your email address)

Calling all Carvers,
I have been a nurse for over 30 years, the first 15 years in ICU and the last 16 years managing an Education & Training department. Over 10 years ago I worked closely with a physical therapy expert and developed a workplace safety program for Call Center employees which was helpful in reducing repetitive injuries. There are now many more studies on ergonomics and proven ways to manage your environment and activities that help reduce injuries. This makes me think about all of you. I know many of you suffer with various injuries and issues due to the way you use your body and environment to carve.

I am motivated to develop a safety program to help reduce the injuries you have from your art of carving. My goal at this time is to engage as many carvers as I can in providing information about your carving habits and injuries, via a survey. In order to develop a safety program I will need to collect data, analyze the information and then work with some specialists to set up a program specifically for carvers.

If you are interested in being part of this study and helping me to implement a safety program to help reduce injuries for carvers, please let me know. This will take me about a year to develop, so no pressure on anyone. You are welcome to send me a private message or share your thoughts here.

CARVERS ROCK!!!

"Oh waiter, another cocktail please!!!"

[ Edited by: VampiressRN 2014-06-08 19:06 ]

See, someone is looking out for you carvers!
Thanks Vamp.

Very cool Marlene. Good luck with your study

Way cool, Marlene!
I'll be part of the program! Please include me in your survey.

I saw Jeff's post on facebook that apparently motivated you to do this.
Even though I don't hurt myself as much as him :wink:, I do know that I do a lot of things "wrong".
I carve in a very primitive way, with the log laying flat on the ground, and me either crouching over it, sitting on it, or sitting on a milk crate or cinder block for a seat.
Then throw in an uneven floor, a ceiling height that's lower than I am tall, power tools with the safety guards removed, sharp chisels, a chainsaw...it's a wonder I'm still alive!

I may be one (far) end of the spectrum, and I do know a couple carvers who work on a standard height workbench, with their work securely clamped down, and wear proper safety gear, in a well-lit and ventilated shop, who would be the other end of the spectrum, but most carvers that I know are closer to me. I'd bet we all 'know' how we should be doing things, but for various reasons, we don't.

I think the root of the problem is the shape of a basic Tiki, cylindrical. Hard to secure, tends to roll, and needs to be worked on from all angles (360). Then, if it's bigger than a couple feet tall, it will have substantial weight which adds to the problems.

Here's a pic of me in my workspace. Let me know if you see anything wrong. :wink:

Just say'n

Fabulous...we are off to a great start here. It will take me a while to develop the survey as I want to be sure to cover all aspects of the art. Please keep sharing your information and pictures are appreciated.

Bill, you are so right...most of us know what safety practices we should be implementing when we are performing various activities but bypass due to time constraints, lack of proper equipment, bad habits, etc. This is going to be an all encompassing program to help with all aspects of the craft. It is so important that you take care of yourselves so you will have many happy years of carving.

Keep the info flowing.

A great idea Vampiress, and agree with 4WD, Jeff should have his own chapter. "Count" me in.

well, in all fairness, the sort of on-going back thing from which I suffer has it's roots not in tiki, but in surfing.

in 89 I was surfing at spanish house on solid head-high offshore day, the sandbars were kinda weird & shallow that day, and I got pitched on the inside & went over the falls and kinda got pile-driven into the sandbar. When this happened I herniated a disc in my lower back. It has haunted me ever since. Usually a few times a year, usually during the most inopportune times, it will rear it's ugly head and make life miserable for a few days... Sometimes it's way worse than others. I had to quit muay thai over the whole back thing. Had to go to physical therapy, etc...

But yeah, the other half of what's happening here is obviously due to the fact that I constantly have large pieces in process and, and when you're moving a lot of big logs around all the time, it kinda kicks your ass. And then there's the tool injuries.... yikes... if I had a dollar for every angle grinder burn, chisel slice, chainsaw gash, etc. that I've endured in the last few years, I'd be on a boat in belize doin' body shots off bikini models. lol...

anyhoo... I use a rockwell jawhorse and and an old black & decker workmate that my grandfather gave me.

I'd be happy to put my 2 cents worth into a survey. I hurt myself no matter what I'm doing!

I have started to write the survey, I use Survey Monkey at work so it is somewhat familiar in the private venue. You are right Jeff, must take already existing injuries into account, and so many other things...I'm in that brainstorming mode now. Below is an initial list of items I need to explore, so feel free to add other items specific to your craft. This list will grow based on your input, which I will continue to add to this list until I have a thorough survey ready. Thanks for your help.

Pre-existing conditions and how acquired
Current treatments for existing conditions (medications, massage, physical therapy)
Types of materials you work on
Tools and how used
Work conditions (location, size, lighting)
Clamps, vices, holding apparatus
Exposure (chemicals, sun, dust)
Body positions when working
Work intervals and rest periods and project time lines
Safety equipment and knowledge of injury prevention

My space is very small... not much more than 150 sq. ft. Other than that my arrangement is similar to Jeff in that I rely mostly on a workmate and a Jawhorse. There is an attachment for the Jawhorse specifically designed to hold logs. I'm not doing much large stuff these days so the standard clamping device works nicely for the small stuff. Seems like I am constantly getting tripped up by all the stuff underfoot. Logs, big chunks of wood from chainsaw rough out, beer cans etc. Aha! there's a good one for you. Empty beer cans and power tools do not mix. Guess I'll never learn...

Damn Marlene, your plan is already working! I've never heard of the Jawhorse before, but it looks to be exactly what I need! No more hunching over holding the smaller pieces between my feet. I'll start saving for one. Thanks Jeff and amate, too!

Bill, I highly recommend the jawhorse...

it's basically a foot operated clamp, so you can use 2 hands to hold the log in place. And, it's thick & heavy, not flimsy.

and when I'm really whackin' at it with the big chisels and there's a lot of impact & shaking, I use a clamping strap to keep it in place so I am not constantly repositioning. it's stable and nothing shifts or slips...

I did a couple of BIG pieces a few months ago and did 'em on the ground like you in that pic, and at the end of getting them done, my back flared up worse than it had in the last ten years... hell, for that matter maybe the worse it's been since the original injury. Tom & Will both warned me... "man, get off the ground..." I really should have listened....

but yeah, get a jawhorse... they fold up real nice too... will sit on the front seat of your truck... :)

Yee Haw....we will consider the Jawhorse a best practice and get's you off the ground!!!

Another vote for the Jawhorse. I got one on Jeff's recommendation a year or so (picked it up off of an ad on Craig's List for about half price). Best investment I've made so far in carving.

Rockwell should like, start paying me or something....

between them, BAND-AIDS & NEOSPORIN... I should have some sort of corporate sponsorship package... lol...

On 2014-05-27 11:19, pjc5150 wrote:
Rockwell should like, start paying me or something....

That's exactly what I was thinking. If Rockwell pays you on commission them add my name to the list. I am another one that bought mine after you recommended it and have been very happy with it. Now you have me thinking about that chain saw....

that little stihl is the shiz-nit...

I am spooning with it and playing romantic love songs as we speak...

I guess I should throw my 2 cents in... I'm just like most carvers on this forum - I am self taught (with 10 years carving), and have figured many things out the "hard" way. Here are some suggestions I give other people that are trying to figure out how to get started:

• Bring the wood UP to you. Create a place that holds the log/wood up to your level. This prevents undo strain on your back and neck. I use several stations to work, my favorite is a folding ladder that I have rigged to hold logs just above waist level. Another using WillCarve's basic plan of cement blocks and 4x4s (see his picture). Its easily adjustable and fits in my confined space. And lastly I use a Workmate for anything Mid-sized (the clamping mech works great).

• Dull blades are dangerous - LEARN TO SHARPEN. Dull blades lead to applying more pressure than needed and can result in inadvertant slips.

• Use Eye, Ear, and Breathing protection. Finite particles can irritate your biology and result in nasty health conditions. In the case of whittling small objects use carving gloves (some day I hope to buy one).

• Use a urethane mallet. The act of pounding chisels is harsh on the whole body. The urethane mallets soften the transfer of vibrations from the mallet into your body. This effects your arms, shoulders, back, hips, and knees.

• When moving large obejects, find the right tools for the job. There are techniques to everything and learning how to handle large objects will assist in everything you do. Hand trucks, winches, jacks, rollers...

Wow! So full of "win" this topic is. Jeff should be a paid spokesman for the Jaw horse (I too got one after he showed me what they do). Take your time and like A mate said, bring the subject to you! While on travel, my workstation is a pile of cinderblocks. Yeah I notice it now. Leaning over it sucks!

Mahalo!

Great topic Marlene! Thank you!

Who knows? The data may lead us to wearing weighted Fannypacks for proper ballast!

McTiki

[ Edited by: McTiki 2014-05-27 14:33 ]

[ Edited by: McTiki 2014-05-27 15:40 ]

I am just glad that your wife doesn't hate me anymore... lol..

don't tell her I said that,,, shhh...

Hi VampiressRN,
i used to suffer from a hurting neck after long carving session because of the head position.when you are carving standing up the problem is you have to bend your head down.that causes an over-stressing of the neck muscles.( in Germany the doctors call that very common problem "Handy-nacken" witch could be translated as "Smart phone-neck".people always bend their head down to look at the display).

i now try to rest my upper body on a raked board with some kind of pillow

another solution might be to use a climbing harness to get a more comfortable neck positioning( that looks quite funny :) )

my neck is now much better !!!
great thing you are doing!
best wishes
simon

here is a text that is about the problem with the neck
http://blog.aarp.org/2013/11/15/got-neck-pain-blame-your-smartphone/

WillCarve - you need to chime in on the last post!!

Yes, Rioturban knows whet he's talking about.
I racked up a log too high & killed my neck just like that.
I still rack them up on the 4X4s but lower than the pic I showed earlier in this thread. 2 cement blocks high, 16 - 20 in high. It makes me bend over & I look straight not craning my neck.
That's why I started the palm fronds, I could carve them on a shelve at eye level.
I did this a year ago March & it still has my attention.
I don't have one but I tell all my friends to pick up their cell phone stop craning. They scoff, "I'm fine". Well so was I till I wasn't.

You guys rock, thanks for so much good info. I am going to try to build the entire survey tomorrow cause I think there is enough sharing here to be sure the topics will give us good data, plus I will have an open ended question so you can include something I may have missed.

Keep sharing...much appreciated.

OK Carvers I have the survey ready for use, just pm me your email address and I will get it to you now. The survey is very easy to take, thanks to Andy for testing it out. I will leave the survey open for a couple of months so I can get as many Carvers as possible. Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

So far, 4 Carvers have taken the initial survey. Thank you so much, great information and your comments are extremely helpful. I will start working on some content and want to section it into well organized topics. I am also going to see if I can link up with some doctors and ergonomic specialists as I move forward.

I want to encourage more folks to take the survey so if you you know someone who carves, please tell them to PM me their email address for the link. The more information I have, the better I can address the various concerns and needs. Thank you for your patience and PM me if you think of anything else you want to share.

Have fun...those of you at Hukilau, and nice donation of a very awesome Tiki!!! Get some good pictures of that fella.

I find this very interesting. Vamp you are one special lady. Wendy

Bumping so I can get some more carvers to PM me their email address, in order to take the survey. The more participants, the better the data will be.

I took it right?

I have the worst memory...

Bumping this thread back, after a year!
I the past year, I found a used jawhorse on Craigslist, and have started using it more and more. And just recently, I found a used B+D workmate, also on Craigslist, and am learning how versatile it can be. Both need some custom modifications to really work for me, and I'm contemplating what they will be. :wink:
When I use either, I am very aware how much more safe I'm working, compared to being on the ground holding the logs with my feet(!), so this thread has had a positive effect!
Marlene, anything ever result from the survey? Pretty sure I took it, but my memory, like Jeff's, isn't the best.

4WD - I used a Workmate for a while, but I'm too tall and it was too short. WillCarve came up with a carving platform that is versatile and ergonomic. Create 4 stacks of cement blocks, 3-5 blocks high (depending on how tall you are), place 8' 4x4 stringers across the stacked blocks (the stringers are held in place by inserting 2x4s into the stacked blocks, this also helps the blocks stay aligned and prevents the logs from rolling off). This simple system allows you to bring the log up to a desired height and also allows the log to roll back and forth giving you access to all sides. It can be left outside without fear of rusting away. The hard part is raising the logs up to the platform.