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Paul Rebucal is a retired custodian based out of Vancouver, and while he no longer is tasked with significant snow removal at facilities, the task of shoveling is still an inevitable ergonomic lament. The back pain that can be associated with the physical demands of shoveling is something he is all-too familiar with, which is why he put his inventive mind to work for a solution.
As reported by Akshay Kuljarni of CBC News, Rebucal has longstanding passion for innovation. So in order to simplify the task of snow removal, he organized an assortment of repurposed materials at the school he had worked at prior to his recent retirement. With the primary objective being to create a shovel that minimizes the need for bending over and utilizing large amounts of arm strength or lifting, he consulted with an electrician to secure a long metal handle to extend the length of the shovel. Additionally, the large shovel scoop originated from a garbage can lid that was remolded to collect large quantities of snow.
Connecting the handlebar and shovel head is an extending cable with wheels to simplify maneuverability when removing snow. Add in a lever that acts as the releasing agent once snow is collected, and users can remove significant amounts with minimal ergonomic effort. Rebucal notes that the current edition is simply a prototype and there is room for improvement, but considering the creativity behind the idea and the materials used to complete the vision, the shovel, dubbed the “Snow Shovel for Seniors” is a remarkable invention nonetheless.
Check out a video where Rebucal showcases the shovel in use here, as well as other inventions he has on his resume including a table-folder tool.