Overheard a lead say 'don't torque with your arms, use your legs'...

Had a chuckle watching a new guy try to torque down a 747 wheel nut with his upper body. Two days later my back started hurting just from leaning over a panel... guess the old timers have a point about body mechanics. Any of you guys have tips for avoiding strain on those tight fuselage jobs?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

dakotacraig1mo ago

Yeah that "use your legs" thing is something I read in an OSHA pamphlet once. They had this whole diagram showing how your spine compresses when you hunch over. I ignored it until I threw my back out reaching for a scribe that fell under the workbench. Took me three weeks to get back to normal. For those tight fuselage jobs, I started using a small rolling stool. Keeps my core straight and I can scoot around without twisting my torso every five seconds. Also, take breaks. Standing up and walking around every 20 minutes makes a bigger difference than you'd think. It's boring advice but it works.

3

adam_hernandez1mo ago

Yeah that stool trick is solid until you roll over a dropped socket and end up flat on your back anyway, which is basically just another lesson in humility with extra steps. Nothing like getting humbled by a piece of hardware that weighs less than my lunch.

1