EMIA Manual Hand Tools S3EMIA-305-ATT15 1.0 General 1.1 Review manufacturer’s operating manual and S3EMIA-305-PR1 Hand & Power Tools for additional guidelines. 1.2 Carry tools using a heavy belt or apron and hang tools at your sides. 1.3 Never carry tools in your pockets or hanging behind your back. 2.0 Hammers 2.1 Hammers are designed according to the intended purpose. Select a hammer that is comfortable for you and that is the proper size and weight for the job. Misuse can cause the striking face to chip, possibly causing a serious injury. 2.2 Choose a hammer with a striking face diameter approximately 1.3 centimeters( ½ inch ) larger than the face of the tool being struck (e.g., chisels, punches, wedges, etc.). 2.3 Strike a hammer blow squarely with the striking face parallel to the surface being struck. Always avoid glancing blows and over and under strikes. (Hammers with beveled faces are less likely to chip or spall). 2.4 Look behind and above you before swinging the hammer. 2.5 Watch the object you are hitting. 2.6 Hold the hammer with your wrist straight and your hand firmly wrapped around the handle. 2.7 Do not use handles that are rough, cracked, broken, splintered, sharp-edged or loosely attached to the head. Remove from service and replace the handle if possible. 2.8 Do not use any hammer head with dents, cracks, chips, mushrooming, or excessive wear. 2.9 Do not use a hammer for any purpose for which it was not designed or intended. 2.10 Do not use one hammer to strike another hammer, other hard metal objects, stones or concrete. 2.11 Do not redress, grind, weld or reheat-treat a hammer head. 2.12 Do not strike with the side or cheek of the hammer. 3.0 Pipe Cutters, Reamers, Taps and Threaders 3.1 Replace pipe cutter wheels which are nicked or otherwise damaged. 3.2 Use a three- or four-wheeled cutter, if there is not enough space to swing the single wheel pipe cutter completely around the pipe. 3.3 Choose a cutting wheel suitable for cutting the type of pipe material required: 3.3.1 Thin wheel for cutting ordinary steel pipe. 3.3.2 Stout wheel for cutting cast iron. 3.3.3 Other wheels for cutting stainless steel, plastic and other materials. 3.4 Select the proper hole diameter and correct tap size to tap a hole. The hole should be sized so that the thread cut by the tap will be about 75 percent as deep as the thread on the tap. 3.5 Use a proper tap wrench (with a “T” handle) for turning a tap. Manual Hand Tools (S3EMIA-305-ATT15) Revision 0 September 19, 2016 PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 1 of 8 3.6 Use lubricant or machine cutting fluid with metals other than cast iron. 3.7 Do not permit chips to clog flutes (groves in the tap that allow metal chips to escape from the hole). The chips may prevent the tap from turning – this may result in the tap breaking if you continue to apply pressure. 3.8 Do not attempt to thread hardened steel. This can chip or damage the die. 3.9 Do not thread any rod or other cylindrical object that is larger in diameter than the major diameter of the die thread. 3.10 Do not use a spiral reamer on a rotating pipe. The reamer may snag and cause serious injury. 4.0 Pliers and Wire Cutters 4.1 Pliers are made in various shapes and sizes and for many uses. Use the correct pliers or wire cutters for the job. 4.2 Choose pliers or wire cutters that have a grip span of 6.4 – 8.9 centimeters (2½ – 3½ inches) to prevent palm or fingers from being pinched when the tools are closed. 4.3 Use adjustable pliers that allow for a firm grip of the work piece while maintaining a comfortable handgrip (i.e., hand grasp is not too wide). 4.4 Use tools only if they are in good condition. 4.4.1 Make sure that the cutting edges are sharp. Dull and worn-down cutting edges require many times more force for cutting. 4.4.2 Make sure that the toothed jaws are clean and sharp. Greasy or worn-down jaws can result in compromised safety. Such tools also require increased force to hold the work piece which, in turn, increases the risk of muscular fatigue and repetitive strain injuries. 4.5 Oil pliers and wire cutters regularly. A drop of oil on the hinge will make the tools easier to use. 4.6 Pull on the pliers; do not push away from you when applying pressure. If the tool slips unexpectedly, you may lose your balance or injure your hand. 4.7 Cut at right angles. Never rock the cutting tool from side to side or bend wire back and forth against the cutting edges. 4.8 Do not cut hardened wire unless the pliers or wire cutters are specifically manufactured for this purpose. 4.9 Do not expose pliers or wire cutters to excessive heat. 4.10 Do not bend stiff wire with light pliers. Needle-nose pliers can be damaged by using the tips to bend large wire. Use a sturdier tool. 4.11 Do not use pliers as a hammer. 4.12 Do not hammer on pliers or wire cutters to cut wires or bolts. 4.13 Do not extend the length of handles to gain greater leverage. Use a larger pair of pliers for gripping or a bolt cutter for cutting. 4.14 Do not use cushion grip handles for jobs requiring tools with electrically insulated handles. Cushion grips are for comfort primarily and do not protect against electric shock. 4.15 Do not use pliers on nuts and bolts; use a wrench. 5.0 Screwdrivers 5.1 Screwdrivers are made in various shapes and sizes and for many uses. Use the correct screwdriver for the job. Manual Hand Tools (S3EMIA-305-ATT15) Revision 0 September 19, 2016 PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 2 of 8 5.2 Choose contoured handles that fit the shank tightly, with a flange to keep the hand from slipping off the tool. 5.3 Use a slot screwdriver with a blade tip width that is the same as the width of the slotted screw head. 5.4 For cross-head screws, use the correct size and type of screwdriver; a Phillips screwdriver may slip out of a screw head designed for use with the slightly flatter-tipped Pozidriv screwdriver. 5.5 Use a vise or clamp to hold the stock if the piece is small or moves easily. 5.6 Keep the screwdriver handle clean. A greasy handle could cause an injury or damage from unexpected slippage. 5.7 If work must be carried out on “live” electrical equipment, use screwdrivers that have insulated handles designed for electrical work and a non-conducting shaft. Remember, most plastic handles are designed for grip and comfort. 5.8 Use non-magnetic tools when working near strong magnets (e.g., in some laboratories). 5.9 Use a screw-holding screwdriver (with screw-holding clips or magnetic blades) to get screws started in awkward, hard-to-reach areas. Square-tipped screwdrivers (e.g., Robertson) that hold screws with recessed square holes are also useful in such situations. 5.10 Use an offset screwdriver in close quarters where a conventional screwdriver cannot be used. 5.11 Use a screwdriver that incorporates the following features when continuous work is needed: 5.11.1 Use a pistol grip to provide for a straighter wrist and better leverage. 5.11.2 Use a "Yankee drill" mechanism (spiral ratchet screwdriver or push screwdriver) which rotates the blade when the tool is pushed forward. 5.11.3 Use a ratchet device to drive hard-to-move screws efficiently, or use a powered screwdriver. 5.12 File a rounded tip square making sure the edges are straight. A dull or rounded tip can slip out of the slot and cause hand injury or damage to materials. 5.13 Store screwdrivers in a rack or partitioned pouch so that the proper screwdriver can be selected quickly. 5.14 Do not lean or push on a screwdriver with any more force than necessary to keep contact with the screw. A screw properly piloted and fitted will draw itself into the right position when turned. Keep the shank directly over the screw being driven. 5.15 Do not hold the stock in one hand while using the screwdriver with the other as an injury may result if the screwdriver slips out of the slot. 5.16 Do not hammer screws that cannot be turned. 5.17 Do not grind the screwdriver tip to fit another size screw head. 5.18 Do not try to use screwdrivers on screw heads for which they are not designed (e.g., straight blade screwdrivers on Phillips, clutch head, Torx or multi-fluted spline screw heads). 5.19 Do not use defective screwdrivers (e.g. rounded or damaged edges or tips; split or broken handles; bent shafts). 5.20 Do not use a screwdriver for prying, punching, chiseling, scoring, scraping or stirring paint. 5.21 Do not use pliers on the handle of a screwdriver for extra turning power. A wrench should be used only on the square screwdriver shank designed for that purpose.