Safety Tips When Using Hand Tools

To assess industry and profession specific associations, rates for specific tools, and nature of injuries, a surveillance study of work injuries caused by power and nonpower hand tools was conducted. From the 1983 Bureau of Labor Statistics Supplementary Data System, 129,399 workers’ compensation claims were examined. There were 101,095 injuries from nonpower hand tools and 28,304 injuries from power hand tools.

For both power and nonpower hand tools, manufacturing had the highest percentage of injuries, followed by construction for power tools and retail trade for nonpower tools. For both tool kinds, the services business had the third highest percentage. Agriculture had the highest rate of relative injury, followed by construction.

According to surveys today, work tools and power tools are responsible for over 400,000 emergency room visits each year. Below are some figures on the number of visits to the emergency department (ER) caused by various types of tools each year.

If you are going to use hand tools, you need to be aware of and follow some important safety tips. This will ensure you don’t lose a finger any time soon!

Get educated on the proper usage of hand tools

Be certain the workers are well educated in the usage of hand tools. Get training about how to use the best tool for the task, how to use and tool properly, and how to recognize when tools need to be repaired.

Choose the best tool for the work.

Substitutes boost the likelihood of an injury occurring.

Use equipment built to keep the wrist straight.

When using hand axes, avoid using them with the wrist twisted.

Make use of high-quality tools.

Maintain the condition of your equipment at all times

Before using a tool, inspect it for flaws.

Replace or fix broken tools.

Use appropriate coating to cover sharp edges

To secure the instrument and avoid injury from accidental contact, keep cutting tools sharp and sharp edges covered with an appropriate coating.

Check the handles of the tools

Handles on files, hammers, screwdrivers, and sledges can be replaced whether they are scratched, splintered, or damaged. Check that the handles of equipment like hammers and axes fit snugly into the tool’s head.

Wrenches, pipe tools, and pliers with worn jaws can be replaced

Repair burred or mushroomed punching tool heads

Use a hammer or pliers to tighten the bolt.

Never press until you have your palm open and the instrument in your hand.

Store sharp point instrument away from aisles

Sharp point instruments for example, saws, chisels, knives should be stored on benches removed from aisles, and handles should not stretch to the edge of the bench top.

Maintain your tools with care.

I like to keep them nice and clean, and safely handle them after each usage.

Transport equipment to and from the jobsite in a durable tool case

Wear protective glasses or a face shield and appropriate gloves

It should be suitable for the dangers to which you can be subjected when performing different activities.

Maintain a safe and orderly workspace

This will prevent clutter, which may lead to injuries.

Wear a thick belt with tools pointing down on the side

Don’t have the tools behind your back.

Maintain a clean work environment.

When not in service, resources should be securely stored.

9 Things to Avoid When Using Hand Tools

Never use a tool for a task that it was not designed for. Using a slot screw driver as a chisel, pry bar, wedge, or jab, and wrenches as hammers, for instance.
Use caution when applying extreme force or weight on tools.
When using cutting instruments, avoid cutting yourself.
When using a cutting instrument or a screwdriver, do not keep the stock in your palm. Place it on a workbench or in a vice at all times.
Or using hand tools, avoid wearing heavy gloves.
Hold equipment in a manner that prevents you from using both hands on a ladder, scaling a wall, or doing other dangerous work. Tools can be lifted and lowered using a bucket and hand line while operating on a ladder or scaffold.
Keep a sharp tool out of your bag.
Using only equipment built for electrical work while doing electrical work.
Tools should not be left sitting about on elevated platforms such as a ladder or scaffold so they may be damaged and break.

Let’s review now 12 essentials tips when using Power Tools.

Power Tools: 12 Tips to Ensure Complete Safety

As stated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission power tools cause more than 960,000 injuries and over 200 people die each year. Causes of the accidents and deaths include user error or inexperience and defective power tools.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), some of the more common injuries caused by power tools include eye injuries, electric shock, hearing loss, puncture wounds and lacerations and many others.

To guard from dangers that could be observed when using hand tools, sufficient personal protection devices such as safety goggles and gloves must be equipped. To avoid unintended slides with or through unsafe hand tools, workplace floors must be held as safe and dry as practicable.

Power tools must be equipped with guards and protective switches since they are particularly dangerous when operated incorrectly. The power source determines the form of power tool.

I suggest that staff follow the appropriate general steps to avoid dangers involved with the usage of power tools:

Never transport a tool by the cord or tube.
To detach the cable or hose from the receptacle, don’t ever pull on it.
Cords and hoses should be kept away from fire, grease, and sharp edges.
When not in use, disconnect equipment before repairing and washing them, and when replacing accessories such as knives, parts, and cutters.
Keep anyone who isn’t participating with the job at a reasonable distance from the work place.
Clamps or a vise may be used to stabilize the operation, allowing both hands to control the tool.
Prevent unintentional starting. When holding a plugged-in device, do not keep your fingertips on the toggle switch.
Maintain equipment with caution; keep them clean and dry for optimal results.
Follow the lubrication and accessory-changing directions in the user’s manual.
When using power tools, hold your feet on the ground and the equilibrium in check.
Wear appropriate clothing for the mission. Garments, accessories, and jewels that are too loose will get entangled in moving pieces.
Take all broken portable electric equipment out of use and mark them “Do Not Use.”

7 Safety Tips When Using Various Tools

Keep all sharp tools in sheaths or holsters at all times.
Mark rusty, broken, or faulty equipment as “Out of Use” and refrain from using them.
Do not use a tool with splinters, burrs, holes, or breaks on the handle board.
When passing a tool to someone else, keep sharp edges and cutting tool away from yourself and the other individual.
Never keep sharp or pointing hand instruments, such as probes or scissors, in your pocket unless they are sheathed.
Never do impromptu fixes on tools.
Hand tools can never be transported in tool cases or tool belts.

Safety Tips for Hammer

For pulling and pushing nails, use a claw hammer.
You should not hit nails or other things with the hammer’s “cheek.”
Never hit one hammer against the other.
Never use a hammer, screwdriver, file, or similar tool whether your hands are oily, greasy, or muddy.

Safety Tips for Power Drill

Clean the drill table with brushes or vacuum equipment to clear metal fragments, shavings, and other contaminants. Do not touch it with your bare hands.
You should not use drill bits that are rusty, scratched, or twisted

Safety Tips for Power Saw

Maintain saw leverage by allowing downward pressure at the end of the stroke.
Never use a saw with a blunt blade.
With each usage of the saw, oil the blades.
By operating the saw, keep the palms and fingertips away from the saw.
Never carry a saw by the blade.

Safety Tips for Rasp and Hand Files

A file can never be used as a pry bar, axe, screwdriver, or chisel.
Hold the handle of the paper or rasp in one side and the toe of the file in the other.
Never hammer on a file.

Safety Tips for Chisel

Do use a sharpened chisel; never use a chisel with a rusty cutting point.
If necessary, use a knife holder to handle a chisel.
By using a chisel, clamp tiny job bits in the vise and chip against the stationary jaw.

Safety Tips for Cabinets, Tool Boxes, and Tool Chests

When opening and closing a drawer or door on a tool box, chest, or fridge, use the handle.
Cover rough edges on tool boxes, chests, or cabinets with tape or file them away.
Do not use tool boxes, chests, or cabinets to achieve additional height.
To keep big tool boxes, chests, or cabinets from moving, lock the wheels.
Push huge chests, tables, and tool boxes rather than pulling them.
Never open more than one tool box drawer at a time.
Before transferring the tool chest to a different place, close and lock all drawers and doors.
Never use a tool box or a chest as a workbench.
Never pass a tool box, chest, or cabinet with loose tools or pieces on the top.