Sturgis, Michigan, May 20, 2007 -- The results of a study of Aviation Snip Design funded by the National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health (NIOSH) have been published in the February 2007 Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene(1).

Midwest Tool And Cutlery Company's patented Upright Snips® models were designed in cooperation with and using the test results of this study. Study participants were tradesmen users of snips hand tools selected from the Sheet Metal Workers Local 91; Rock Island, Illinois.

The study concludes that "Choice of hand tools may have a substantial impact on the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders", and "It is preferable to use hand tools that may reduce exposure to physical risk factors associated with these disorders". The study found that when cutting curves in sheet metal, the 90-degree offset blades-to-handles design of the Upright Snips® was widely preferred by study participants at shoulder height and had the greatest impact on reducing physical factors at waist height. Cutting curves in sheet metal with a regular straight model aviation snip resulted in jagged edges and the study further noted that "cuts / lacerations are the second most frequent type of injury among sheet metal workers"(2).

For more information on Upright Snips® models, visit the company's website at www.midwestsnips.com.

About Midwest Tool & Cutlery

Midwest Tool And Cutlery Company produces the made in the USA Midwest Snips® brand of aviation and tinner snips at manufacturing operations in Sturgis and Kalkaska, Michigan. The company also produces a full line of tinner snips, folding tools, cable cutters and other specialty tools for the HVAC/R, construction, siding, roofing and sheet metal industries. Midwest Snips are available at HVAC/R and industrial wholesale distributors in North America and worldwide and at selected retail outlets.

Visit www.midwestsnips.com for more information.

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(1) Dan Anton, Fredric Gerr, Alysha Meyers, Thomas M. Cook, John C. Rosecrance and Jonathan Reynolds, "Effect of Aviation Snip Design and Task Height on Upper Extremity Muscular Activity and Wrist Posture", Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 4:2, 99-113.
(2) Construction Safety Association of Ontario: Injury Atlas, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Construction Safety Association of Ontario, 2003.

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Application Notes for Editors:

Midwest Snips® aviation snips and associated specialty tools are widely used in the following trades/applications:

- Heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC/R) and refrigeration installation and repair
- Exterior remodeling industry (roofing, siding, gutter and down spout installation and repair)
- Floor covering installation
- Metal building construction and maintenance
- RV/Motor home/trailer manufacturing
- General construction, maintenance and repair
- Auto body repair
- General sheet metal cutting
- Industrial /MRO applications

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Color scan included with e-mail releases - photos available by request for mailed releases. Attachments included: P6900Linhand.jpeg Midwestsnips.jpeg Uprightlogo.jpeg Caption for P6900Linhand.jpeg: The patented Upright Snips® 90-degree blades to handles design facilitates cutting tight circles in sheet metal while keeping the hand safely above the working surface.