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. (The pictured tools are in poor condition and should not be used.) • Keep tools such as knives, saws and chisels sharp; they are safer to use when you do not have to use excessive force to make a cut. • Use the right type and size tool for the job. A wrench or screwdriver will slip if you use the wrong type or size. • Know how to safely use the tool you are using. For example, if you don’t face the jaws of an adjustable wrench in the direction of the pull, it will slip. • Always follow manufacturer’s instructions for the proper and safe use of tools. • Don’t push a tool beyond its capabilities. Adding a cheater bar to a pipe wrench to get more leverage might cause the wrench to slip or send it fl ying into the air. • Carry tools in tool pouches on your tool belt when climbing up or down ladders. If you do not have a tool pouch, place them in a bucket and hoist them up or down with a rope. • Always use the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job—e.g., eye protection, hard hats and gloves. These are just a few of the many things you should be thinking about when working with hand tools. If you have never used a particular tool before, ask your foreman or an experienced co-worker how to use it safely. Isn’t it better to learn how to do it right the fi rst time than to have to learn from injuries and the school of hard knocks? Use the right hand tools and use them safely! The pictured tools are in poor condition and should not be used. Copyright©2006 by the National Utility Contractors Association—All rights reserved. Disclaimer: This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in re- gard to the subject matter covered. However, the information in this toolbox talk is provided with- out any representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding its accuracy or correctness..