Jackhammer Holders in Air Compressors

City of Vancouver Engineering has always strived to reduce the risk of work related injuries.  Another example of this commitment is shown in the modifications done on the new air compressors to store jackhammers.

The original air compressor design as received from the manufacturer involved a side door that opened with the aid of a gas strut on one end of the door to get access to the built in tool box where the jackhammers were stored inside.  There were a number of risk factors that were present when the workers retrieve the jackhammer from the compressor.  Two major ones included:

1. The side door in the open position did not fully open and workers had to bend their head, neck and back in order to get underneath the door.

2. In this stooped position, workers had to reach in to the tool box where the jackhammers that weigh up to 60 lbs are stored.  The tool box is situated rather low to the ground and a lot of effort is required to lift the jackhammer up and over the lip of the compartment.  This caused significant strain on the back and did not allow for the approved lifting techniques recommended by the WCB of B.C.

Equipment Services, Street Operations and the City’s Ergonomist worked together to alleviate some of back injuries related to lifting these jackhammers.  A prototype was developed, tested by crews in the field, and feedback was collected.  This process was repeated a few times and eventually led to the final design that provides solution to these risk factors.

The first problem was solved by removing the gas strut that supported the door to allow the door to open fully.  Two safety latches at each end secure the door in the fully open position.  This allows workers to get close to the tool box without stooping.  The second problem was eliminated by a jackhammer holder design.  The design consists of a horizontal bracket that swivels on a post at one end.  The jackhammer lies flat on the bracket and can swing out and over the lip of the compartment at a comfortable level for the workers to lift from, thus limiting exposing the back to injury risks associated with the previous method of storage.

The components for the swing-out breaker holder are manufactured from aluminium.  The assembly resembles a swinging gate post.  The post is bolted firmly to the air compressor chassis frame to provide a solid mounting base for the swing-out holder. The swing-out holder slips over the post.  This design was used so that holders that fit different jack hammers can be quickly and easily changed.  Construction drawings for the assembly were made.  The Fabrication Shop manufacturers the components, provides the assembly and installation in production quantities thereby bringing costs down for this compressor modification.

To date, the feedback received from the Streets and Sewers Operations Crews using the modified jackhammer holders has been very positive.  Geoff Wright, John Kuznik, Bill Arndt, Ken Brown, the Streets Operations Crews and the Fabrication Shop were instrumental to the success of this project.

Figure Previously, workers would have to stoop underneath the side door and bend to remove the jackhammer from its low storage location inside the compartment of the compressor.

Figure: 2 The retrofit allowed for loading and unloading the jackhammer without having to stoop and brought the jackhammer higher up to reduce the height that the workers had to lift the jackhammers.

Figure: 3 Breaker holder assembly consisting of the holder and the post.