A new construction of the welding gun handle was tested by the surface EMG measurements. EMG was collected from the five upper arm and shoulder region muscles. In the tests eight welders used the traditional and the new handle in six different welding tasks. After the test also welder's subjective assessments about the handles were collected utilizing VAS (visual analogue scales). On the average the new handle reduced activity of the biceps brachii muscle in two welding tasks. In one task also the activity of the m. deltoids medius was reduced. In contrast the activity of the trapezius muscle increased during over head welding when the welders used the new handle. Because the new handle is able to be used like the traditional welding gun handle, it can be argued that in normal work this handle should work at least as well in any situation as the traditional handles.
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