February 2, 2012 –
A new highway drill jig developed in the laboratory of Professor David Rempel promises to both ease fatigue and prevent harmful silica exposure for workers drilling into concrete.
Concrete construction work often involves drilling many horizontal holes to house rebar, which is physically punishing work, and can expose workers to airborne crystalline silica that will damage lung tissue if it is inhaled. Rempel is the director of the UC Ergonomics Laboratory and Professor in Residence of Bioengineering, UC Berkely and Medicine, UCSF.