Physical capability limits for right-angle power tool operation.

Automotive assembly operations require power tools to secure fasteners and these operations have been linked to increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders. This work was designed to develop physical capability limits for direct current right-angle power tool (RAPT) operations using psychophysics. Forty females fastened joints of different hardness's using three fastening strategies, at three fastening frequencies. Participants chose to fasten, independent of orientation, joints up to 89 (10.6) Nm using Atlas Copco's TurboTight