Hand Tool Safety.Indd
Hand Tool Safety Have you ever thought about the many different types of hand tools you use on the job and at home? When used properly, tools like hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, chisels, wrenches, wrecking bars, shovels, axes and picks make our lives easier. But sometimes we forget to use them properly or for tasks other than for what they are intended. That’s when we or someone else is in danger of suffering a serious injury. Such injuries include: • lacerations from knives, chisels, saw blades and other sharp blades or edges; • puncture wounds from awls, screwdrivers, drills and other tools with sharp points; • eye injuries from hardware and other materials glancing off the surface of tools like a mushroomed chisel; and • scratches and bruises from a slipping tool, such as when a wrench slips off a bolt. To avoid these and other types of injuries, remember the following basic rules of hand tool safety: • Choose the proper tool for the job. Every hand tool has a purpose and they all have limitations. • Use all tools for the purpose for which they were intended. For example, do not use a screwdriver for a chisel, or a chisel for a screwdriver. And, never use a scraper or screwdriver for prying. • Never hammer on any tool, unless the tool that will be struck is specifi cally designed for that purpose— e.g., punches, chisels, wedges, etc. • Keep tools in good condition and never use a tool that is damaged or broken. If a hammer has a cracked handle, the head can go fl ying into the air.
[Show full text]