Strap to reduce tautliner related injuries

Strong Arm Strap inventor claims to reduce risk of injuries when pulling tautliner curtains

Close up of the Strong Arm Strap in action.

Occupational therapist Tim Elvery has come up with a device which he says will reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and make it easier for truck drivers and transport workers, when opening and closing heavy tautliner truck curtains.

Elvery, founder and director of Queensland business StrongLinx, explains that the Strong Arm Strap is a simple cost-effective device which provides leverage and also helps to reduce the risk of injuries to the back, shoulder, upper limbs and neck.

Elvery quotes Queensland workers’ compensation scheme statistics 2017-18 which says the transport industry has a higher rate of injuries than many other occupations, with the average cost of a lost-time work injury in the road transport industry being $26,089.

BevChain driver Matthew Muller opening a tautliner curtain using the Strong Arm Strap.

“I developed the Strong Arm Strap out of necessity, after seeing and treating the injuries caused when transport workers strained themselves pulling tautliner curtains that were sticking, worn or just heavy,” Elvery says.

“The Strong Arm Strap means they can securely ground themselves and get a good grip on the strap handle, instead of stretching and straining to pull the curtains, enabling them to open or close the curtains much more safely and easily.

“The strap is also compact and easy to store so it’s ready when needed.”

BevChain driver Malcolm Tom has been quoted as saying the Strong Arm Strap made his job easier.

“All BevChain shuttle drivers from the XXXX Brewery in Milton really like using the Strong Arm Strap, as it makes opening side curtains much easier and puts less strain on our bodies,” Tom says.

Another BevChain driver, Matthew Muller, says “the Strong Arm Strap makes light work of hard to move curtains that will save workers from long-term potential injuries”.

Elvery says the strap hooks into the curtain buckle, saving fingers and hands from possible injury, and allows workers to keep their arms close to their body as they pull, so they can use their core strength and reduce the risk of over-stretching.

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