Work Efficiency Tip Sheet: Try a Long Handled Hoe for Weeding Nursery Crops

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chapman L ; Miquelon M ; Newenhouse A
• Description:
  Many of the hoes commonly used for weeding can strain your back, neck, shoulders, and arms because they force you to adopt a stooped position. Consider a long handled hoe with a sharp blade instead of what you currently use. Long handled hoes encourage you to stand up straight while you work and some keep your wrists and neck in a more neutral position. The unique design of these hoes can also help you save time and effort. How do they work? Hoes are designed either for slicing weeds at or just below ground level or for chopping weeds and cultivating or disturbing the soil surface. Blades on chopping hoes, such as a planter hoe or nursery hoe, are set at a sharp angle to the ground and are designed to move more soil than slicing hoes. While many types of slicing hoes are available (such as the stirrup, scuffle, half-moon and circle hoes), two in particular, the long-handled diamond hoe and the collinear hoe, allow you to stand straight with a neutral wrist position. The long handled diamond hoe has a 2" x 8" diamond-shaped blade, sharpened on all 4 edges. The handle is 6' long and ends in a modified "T" shape. While standing upright, you push the hoe with your hand loosely gripping the "T" and pull it back again in a push-pull motion similar to running a household vacuum. With your other hand along the handle, you can gently guide the hoe. The collinear hoe has a 1 ¼" wide, 4" - 7" long rectangular blade angled so the blade is parallel to the ground while you stand upright. Grip the collinear hoe with your thumbs up, and make short, sweeping motions beside you near your feet. The motions are similar to using a broom or leaf rake. Collinear hoe handles come in 56"-68" lengths. Choose a handle long enough to let you hoe without stooping. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Workers Injury Prevention MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Posture Tools
• Publisher:
  University of Wisconsin
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Fact Sheet
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 5 ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061197
• Citation:
  Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, 2005 Nov; :1-2
• Contact Point Address:
  Department of Biological Systems Engineering, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• Performing Organization:
  University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20030930
• Source Full Name:
  Work efficiency tip sheet: try a long handled hoe for weeding nursery crops
• End Date:
  20080929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2132b3e1d37f8059fc54a7071e12f835e7560b747413e37fc1c6ed9a7abd38a9af49f3bb6be6da0b1b45f5425727c96e9a16af9004a9df391dd3b0eaca04c6b3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224812/cdc_224812_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 356.59 KB ]