Hand —Screwdrivers

Explain dangers • As best practice, make a pilot hole before driving a into wood. Start with one or More than any other , the screwdriver is used two “soft” turns, that is, with the fingers of for jobs it was never meant to do. People use your free hand on the screw. Engage one or them for chipping, chiselling, scraping, prying, two threads, make sure the screw is going digging, gouging, testing circuits, making holes, in straight, then take your fingers away. You stirring paint, propping doors open, and taking can put your fingers on the shank to help the lids off cans. guide and hold the screwdriver. But the main action is on the handle, which should be large When used improperly, workers have suffered enough to allow enough grip and to eye injuries from flying fragments of screwdrivers drive the screw. struck with a . • Make sure that the screwdriver handle is However, the most common abuse of the intact, free of splits or cracks, and clean of screwdriver is using one that doesn’t fit or match grease and oil. the screw. That means using a screwdriver too big or small for the screw or not matched to the • You should only need enough force to keep screw head. the screwdriver in contact with the screw. With a properly sized and drilled hole, the The results are cuts and puncture wounds from screw will draw itself into the material with slipping screwdrivers. minimum pressure and guidance. • Don’t hold the material in one hand and Identify controls use the screwdriver with the other. The screwdriver can slip and cut your hand. • Use the right screwdriver for the job. This means the right kind of tip—slot, Robertson, • Discard screwdrivers with chipped handles, Phillips, whatever. It also means use the right bent shanks, and twisted or excessively size of screwdriver. One that is too big or rounded tips. small for the screw can only lead to trouble. • Don’t use bench grinders to restore tips. The You’ll chew up the screw head, damage the excessive heat can destroy temper and reduce screwdriver, gouge the material, or scrape the hardness of shank and tip. Filing should be your knuckles. done by hand. NOTE: All crosspoint are not designed • Use screwdrivers with large handles for better to be driven by a Phillips screwdriver. Phillips grip. screws and drivers are only one type among • Don’t use on the handle of a screwdriver several crosspoint systems. They are not for more power. To remove stubborn screws, interchangeable (see image below). use a screwdriver with a square shank designed for use with a . Demonstrate

Review the types of screwdrivers used by your crew. Inspect a few for evidence of wear, damage, or misuse.

Phillips Frearson Pozidriv Torq-set (Reed)

Techniques and Tools 85