Ergonomic design of hand glove for improving grip strength of male adults

Darryl, Chai Meng Zhi (2024) Ergonomic design of hand glove for improving grip strength of male adults. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

The growing demand for ergonomic products focusing on well-being and comfort has been evident in recent years. The observation of a lack of specialized ergonomic gloves for Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) raises safety concerns, hinders performance, and contributes to fatigue among welders. This study aims to design an ergonomic glove to enhance the grip strength of Malaysian male adults for SMAW process. The study focuses on Malaysian male adults to tailor the ergonomic glove design to local physiological characteristics and occupational needs in SMAW tasks. The project addresses the problem of inadequate grip strength, which can affect daily and occupational activities. The objectives of this study include analyzing hand grip strength and its correlation with various hand and body postures, and developing a prototype of SMAW glove that improves grip performance. The methodology involves creating a dataset by measuring hand anthropometric dimensions and grip strength, considering various postures (2x3=6 combinations: standing and sitting for neutral, supination, and pronation forearm postures), conducting a correlation analysis between grip strength and different postures, and prototyping an ergonomic glove based on user needs and product specifications. Results indicate strong correlations (r = 0.93 to 0.95) between grip strength and specific postures, guiding the design features of the SMAW glove. The final prototype shows a 6.51% reduction in grip impairment compared to traditional SMAW gloves, enhancing user satisfaction for personal and professional use. This study contributes to ergonomic SMAW glove design and offers practical solutions for enhancing welders performance in SMAW process. Recommendations for further study include exploring the impact of different materials on glove performance, assessing long-term user satisfaction, and expanding the study to include other grip strength factors.

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