What To Consider With Battery-Powered Equipment

Many jobsites are making the switch to batterypowered for not only the power and performance but added safety benefits. Pictured, Milwaukee’s MX FUEL Breaker.

Milwaukee Tool Corp. Traditionally gas-powered engines have been the most powerful, but advances in both equipment design and battery technology allow for enhanced capabilities and more efficient power utilization. These advances mean there are more companies moving to cordless jobsites.

Equipment is a huge investment and proper maintenance to extend the product's lifetime is one of the most important ways to protect that investment. There are a few key equipment aspects to keep in mind when considering jobsite safety and weighing productivity.

Emissions. Battery-powered equipment is completely emissions and fume free, limiting the time your workers interact with gas. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict regulations regarding the handling and storing gas on the jobsite. By going cordless contractors can eliminate the need to set up things such as gas cages, saving time and money. Additionally, it can eliminate regulatory safety protocols around gas storage and proper use in equipment saving the possibility of repair or replacement due to bad maintenance.

Safety Technology. The specialized engineering of a tool can physically reduce a worker’s risk of injury with little to no change in their workflow. Battery-powered equipment allows for the use of sensor technology inside the product providing safety technology that is designed and built to protect users whenever equipment is running, without added thought.

These safety technologies can aid in control and reduce kickback during bind-up situations delivering a safer experience. Tools featuring these solutions typically have engineered set points to automatically stop the equipment or tool when thresholds are reached for a specific amount of time. In a core drill, for example, an internal gyroscope monitors angular momentum and uses onboard sensors to remove power from the motor before it rotates more than 45 degrees. At that engineered limit, the equipment will no longer fight the user.

Anti-vibration. The electronic technology in battery-powered solutions reduces the vibration and therefore reduces the chance of these types of long-term safety concerns. The risk of harm from vibration, for which there is no OSHA standard, depends on intensity, frequency, and length of exposure. Vibrations can affect the entire body bringing symptoms like back pain or shakiness. This can be experienced after many day-to-day activities such as a long car or boat trip or after operating heavy equipment, including bulldozers and jackhammers. Due to extended exposure to vibration, skilled trade workers are known to suffer from localized HandArm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), when vibrations gradually cause permanent changes in tendons, muscles, bones, and joints. A well-known disorder from HAVS is “Vibration-Induced White Finger,” or “Raynaud’s disease,” which causes fingers and toes to feel numb and cold in response to temperatures or stress.

Anti-vibration technology can be found in the electronics and mechanics of a tool. However, mechanical antivibration technology in a breaker, for example, includes its spring design and floating head separating the head from the striking mechanism. This keeps the user further from the point of impact to cushion the impact. This reduction allows the user to experience less fatigue and reduced circulatory issues specifically around their hands.

Cordless. The second most reportable OSHA violation is slips, trips, and falls so battery-powered equipment eliminates that extra tripping hazard that people must navigate. Batterypowered equipment allows users to work both emissions-free and cord-free, ultimately giving users a new way to complete the application more seamlessly and efficiently.

Noise. Hearing damage can occur with long-term exposure to loud noises or the sudden blast potentially bursting an eardrum. Battery-powered equipment typically operates at lower decibels helping to prevent hearing damage or loss. The lower noise level also means users can communicate while they’re operating the tools, adding safety and productivity.

The mindset on today’s jobsites has changed. Workers realize that the historic safety risks they used to accept as “part of the job” are now addressable. Along with greater safety for workers, productivity is boosted by fewer days away from work due to injuries. Batterypowered equipment offers an effective alternative to gas engine noise and vibrations, providing a better experience and increased safety and productivity.

As Director of Product Management, Kevin Gee is responsible for overseeing the strategy and product development for Milwaukee Tool's MX FUEL Cordless Equipment System and Concrete solutions.

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