Solution Summary: Stake or Post Puller
A stake or post puller removes rebar, stakes, or posts from an upright posture by pushing down on the handle.
Description:
A stake or post puller is an engineering control that reduces repetitive bending, twisting, and pulling. When performed repeatedly, especially from a stooped posture, these movements put laborers at an increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). A stake or post puller reduces these risks by allowing the rebar, stake, or post to be removed from an upright position by pushing down on the handle, which provides an upward force.
Stake or post pullers consist of a handle connected to a central shaft and two pull shafts. At the end of the shafts are two gripping pieces and a baseplate. Stake or post pullers are made from heavy gauge steel plate and tubing with zinc and clear chromate plating to resist corrosion.
Stake or post pullers are operated by lifting the handle, which pulls on the pull shafts to open the gripping piece. Once open, the rebar, stake, or post is positioned inside the gripping piece. The object is lifted out of the ground by placing the foot on the base and pushing down on the handle. These steps are repeated until the post is completely removed.
Figure 1. Stake puller lined up with a stake. (Photo courtesy of MARSHALLTOWN
With uneven ground, blocks can be placed beneath the base of the stake or post puller so that the central shaft and gripping device is parallel to the rebar, stake, or post. With soft ground, a wooden block can be screwed into two holes in the 4" by 8" base plate to increase the base of support.
There are numerous models of stake or post pullers for five categories of rebar, stake, and post removal (construction and concrete, T-post fencing and farming, tents and inflatables, sign posts, and utility grounding rods). The models range from a 9:1 to a 16:1 mechanical advantage, producing 900 to 2,800 pounds of upward force. The different models vary to accommodate the various size and shapes of the objects being removed.
Risks Addressed:
Heavy lifting and carrying and stooped postures with twisting and bending can cause low back disorders, such as muscle strain or a disc herniation (“slipped disc”), which is bulging of disc material possibly pressing on the spinal cord or nerves that go into the leg. A stake or post puller reduces the risks of MSDs associated with repetitive bending, twisting, and pulling because they are operated by pushing down on a handle from an upright position.
Stressful hand and wrist activity can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as muscle strains; tendonitis, which is inflammation of elbow and wrist tendons; or carpal tunnel syndrome, which is compression of a wrist nerve, resulting in finger numbness and loss of hand strength. A stake or post puller reduces the risks of MSDs associated with repetitive bending, twisting, and pulling because they are operated by pushing down on a handle instead of pulling up on the post or stake.
How Risks are Reduced:
Stake or post pullers minimize the duration of stooped posture because once in place, the tool can be operated from a standing position. A brief stooped posture is required to align the rebar, stake or post into the gripping piece. Additionally, stake or post pullers eliminate pulling, lifting, and twisting of the forearm and wrist, which is required in traditional rebar removal. Instead, pushing down on the handle while standing is sufficient to pull out the rebar, stake, or post.
There is ample evidence that low-back disorders are associated with lifting, stooping, and forceful movements (Bernard, 2007). Research has shown that workers who spend more time in stooped or other awkward back postures are at a higher risk for developing low back problems. Studies have reported a decrease in low back pain and stress among those working with materials kept at or near waist height (Hoogendoorn et al., 2000). Additionally, research has shown that forceful elbow and/or hand and wrist movements increase the likelihood of tendinitis in the associated joint and/or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Safety and health experts, as well as the manufacturer, believe that using stake or post pullers require less demand on the laborer because it eliminates strain on the operator's back. The manufacturer states, “pulling straight up [with the stake or post puller] is easier, because it eliminates side loading, and resulting strain on the operator's back.” Also, using stake or post pullers is safer than using a hammer and striking the metal stakes or posts to loosen them.
Effects on Productivity:
Stake or post pullers increase productivity on the worksite.
Additional Considerations:
The correct stake or post puller model must be chosen based on the object being removed. The frequency of use of stake or post pullers should be considered prior to purchase because the benefit may not outweigh the price if only used occasionally. In addition, stake or post pullers are safer than using a hammer and striking the metal stakes or posts to loosen them.
Contributors:
Dan Anton, PT, PhD, ATC; and Kevin Wright, SPT – Eastern Washington University
Availability
The Marshalltown Company® Stake Puller
To obtain information, visit http://www.marshalltown.com
or contact 1-641-753-0127
