Male torque strength in simulated oil rig tasks: the effects of grease-smeared gloves and handle length, diameter and orientation

This paper examines the effects of two glove conditions and selected handle and task characteristics on tightening (clockwise) torques on cylindrical handles in simulated oil rig tasks. Ten male exerted MVC torques with the r ight hand on nine handles with different length-diameter combinations (3.8, 7.6, and 12.7 cm in length with 3.8, 6.7, and 8.4cm in diameter) with dry and grease-smeared gloves in two orientations. The results showed a 50% red uction of torque when using grease-smeared glove compared to dry glove; a 1 5% increase with the long handle compared to the short one; a 25% increase with the medium diameter handle compared to the small one; and a 12% increa se with the horizontally oriented handle compared with the vertical one. Th ere were important interaction effects also. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.