Safety and Ergonomics for Jewelry Artisans 

Working with wire creates a situation in which you use your hands in an extremely intensive way.  Small movements are repeated many times over and this repetitive use of the hands can cause injury, pain and numbness.  Incorrect or careless use positioning or use of tools can cause you to lose the ability to use your hands for weeks or months at a time to give them time to heal.  A little care taken before and during your work period will help keep your hands and eyes healthy. 

1. Warming up for working - Gently move the hands for a couple of minutes before you start working. (bend, flex, rotate, extend, stretch )

2. Wear eye protection when cutting wire and when weaving with long ends

3. Good ergonomics in seating will help your neck, shoulders, arms, wrists and fingers when working for long periods

   1. Be sure your seat height is correct

   2. Use a foot rest if needed

   3. Be sure your back is properly supported

   4. Match your table height to your seat height

   5. Keep your hands and arms warm

4. Good lighting will help your eyes and posture while you are working

5. Rest periods

   1. Every hour do 5 minutes of the following exercises

   2. Hand exercises

                                                              i.      Praying hands – Put the tips of your fingers together and gently push your palms together.

                                                            ii.      Finger tip touches – Touch each finger tip to the tip of your thumb one at a time.

                                                          iii.      Finger stretches – Open your hand like a starfish and stretch the fingers as far as they will go.

                                                           iv.      Rotate wrists gently with fists doubled up

                                                              v.      Stretch hands back at finger tips using other hand.  Do this gently and don’t push too far.

3. Eye exercises

                                                              i.      Blink slowly to produce moisture in the eye

                                                            ii.      Close eyes slowly and with eyes closed look up, down and to each side

                                                          iii.      Change the focus of your eyes by doing the following – focus on your finger, slowly move your finger away, bring your finger close then focus on something 10 ft. from you.

4. Neck, shoulder and back exercises

                                                              i.      Shoulder blade touch – While sitting up straight with your shoulders back and head erect, push your shoulder blades together and hold for a count of 5.

                                                            ii.      Neck rolls – Place one hand on your head to support your neck and gently move your head forward, then to the right , back and left.

                                                          iii.      Shoulder Rolls – Hold your arms out and make large circles with your hips.

                                                           iv.      Shoulder Rolls – Hold your arms out and roll first one shoulder and then the other forward then back while moving your arms naturally following the motion of your shoulders.

                                                             v.      Back arch – Sit up straight then arch your back and hold for a count of 3.

                                                           vi.      Back bow – Lift your shoulders and bow your back out.  Hold for a count of 3.

5. Pressure points – Put pressure in  these points to relieve tension in your hand.

                                                              i.      Grinder joint – at the base of the ball of your thumb

                                                            ii.      Base of fingers

6. Do not rest your elbows or your arm below the elbow joint on the table without a pad.  This can cause tennis elbow (cubital tunnel)

7. Use hand protection (leather finger covers) so you don’t cut yourself with the wire as you tighten wires.