Work equipment includes hand tools and hand-held power tools. These tools need to be correct for the task, well maintained and properly used.
Hazards from the misuse or poor maintenance of hand tools include:
➤ broken handles on fi les/chisels/screwdrivers/ham- mers which can cause cut hands or hammer heads to fl y off
➤ incorrect use of knives, saws and chisels with hands getting injured in the path of the cutting edge
Figure 11.7 Emergency stop buttons.
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➤ tools that slip causing stab wounds
➤ poor quality uncomfortable handles that damage hands
➤ splayed spanners that slip and damage hands or faces
➤ chipped or loose hammer heads that fl y off or slip
➤ incorrectly sharpened chisels that slip and cut hands
➤ fl ying particles that damage eyes from breaking up stone or concrete
➤ electrocution or burns by using incorrect or dam- aged tools for electrical work
➤ use of poorly insulated tools for hot work in catering or food industry
➤ use of pipes or similar equipment as extension han- dles for a spanner which is likely to slip causing hand or face injury
➤ mushroom headed chisels or drifts which can dam- age hands or cause hammers (not suitable for chis- els) and mallets to slip
➤ use of spark producing or percussion tools in fl am- mable atmospheres.
11.8.1 Hand tools
Hand tools should be properly controlled including those tools owned by employees. The following controls are important.
Suitability – all tools should be suitable for the pur- pose and location in which they are to be used. This will include:
➤ specially protected and insulated tools for electricians
➤ non-sparking tools for fl ammable atmospheres and the use of non-percussion tools and cold cutting methods
➤ tools made of suitable quality materials which will not chip or splay in normal use
➤ the correct tools for the job, for example, using the right-sized spanner and the use of mallets on chisel heads
➤ safety knives with enclosed blades for regular cut- ting operations
➤ scissors with blunted ends.
Inspection – all tools should be maintained in a safe and proper condition. This can be achieved through:
➤ the regular inspection of hand tools
➤ discarding or prompt repair of defective tools
➤ taking time to keep tools in the proper condition and ready for use
➤ proper storage to prevent damage and corrosion
➤ locking tools away when not in use to prevent them being used by unauthorized people.
Training – all users of hand tools should be prop- erly trained in their use. This may well have been done through apprenticeships and similar training. This will be particularly important with specialist working conditions or work involving young people.
11.8.2 Hand-held power tools
Hazards
The electrical hazards of portable hand-held tools are covered in Chapter 10. This section deals with other physical hazards relating to this type of equipment, par- ticularly a drill and sander.
Other hazards involve:
➤ mechanical entanglement in rotating spindles or sanding discs
➤ waste material fl ying out of the cutting area
➤ coming into contact with the cutting blades or drill bits
➤ risk of hitting electrical, gas or water services when drilling into building surfaces
➤ manual handling problem with a risk of injury if the tool is heavy or very powerful
➤ hand–arm vibration especially with petrol strimmers and chainsaws
➤ tripping hazard from trailing cables or power supplies
➤ eye hazard from fl ying particles Figure 11.8 Typical range of hand tools.
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➤ explosion risk with petrol driven tools or when used near fl ammable liquids or gases
➤ high noise levels with routers, planes and saws in particular (see Chapter 15)
➤ dust levels (see Chapter 14).
Typical safety instructions and controls
When using power tools, the following basic safety meas- ures should be observed to protect against electrical shock, personal injury, ill-health and risk of fi re. Operators should read these instructions before using the equip- ment and ensure that they are followed:
➤ maintain a clean and tidy working area that is well lit and clear of obstructions
➤ never expose power tools to rain. Do not use power tools in damp or wet surroundings
➤ do not use power tools in the vicinity of combustible fl uids or gases
➤ protect against electrical shock (if tools are elec- trically powered) by avoiding body contact with grounded objects such as pipes, radiators, stoves and refrigerators
➤ keep children away
➤ do not let other persons handle the tool or the cable.
Keep them away from the working area
➤ store tools in a safe place when not in use where they are in a dry, locked area, which is inaccessible to children
➤ tools should not be overloaded as they operate better and safer in the performance range for which they were intended
➤ use the right tool. Do not use small tools or attach- ments for heavy work. Do not use tools for pur- poses and tasks for which they were not intended;
for example, do not use a hand-held circle saw to cut down trees or cut off branches
➤ wear suitable work clothes. Do not wear loose fi tting clothing or jewellery. They can get entangled in mov- ing parts. For outdoor work, rubber gloves and non- skid footwear are recommended. Long hair should be protected with a hair net
➤ use safety glasses
➤ also use a fi ltering respirator mask for work that generates dust
➤ do not abuse the power cable
➤ do not carry the tool by the power cable and do not use the cable to pull the plug out of the power socket.
Protect the cable from heat, oil and sharp edges
➤ secure the work piece. Use clamps or a vice to hold work piece. It is safer than using hands and it frees both hands for operating the tool
➤ do not overreach the work area. Avoid abnormal body postures. Maintain a safe stance and maintain a proper balance at all times
➤ maintain tools with care. Keep your tools clean and sharp for effi cient and safe work. Follow the mainte- nance regulations and instructions for the chan ging of tools. Check the plug and cable regularly and in case of damage, have repaired by a qualifi ed ser- vice engineer. Also inspect extension cables regu- larly and replace if damaged
➤ keep the handle dry and free of oil or grease
➤ disconnect the power plug when not in use, before servicing and when changing the tool, i.e. blade, bits, cutter, sanding disc, etc.
➤ do not forget to remove key. Check before switch- ing on that the key and any tools for adjustment are removed
➤ avoid unintentional switch-on. Do not carry tools that are connected to power with your fi nger on the power switch. Check that the switch is turned off before connecting the power cable
➤ outdoors use extension cables. When working out- doors, use only extension cables which are intended for such use and marked accordingly
➤ stay alert, keep eyes on the work. Use common sense. Do not operate tools when there are signifi - cant distractions
➤ check the equipment for damage. Before further use of a tool, check carefully the protection devices Figure 11.9 Typical range of hand-held power tools.
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performance of their intended functions. Check movable parts for proper function, whether there is binding or for damaged parts. All parts must be cor- rectly mounted and meet all conditions necessary to ensure proper operation of the equipment
➤ damaged protection devices and parts should be repaired or replaced by a competent service centre unless otherwise stated in the operating instructions.
Damaged switches must be replaced by a compe- tent service centre. Do not use any tool which can- not be turned on and off with the switch
➤ only use accessories and attachments that are described in the operating instructions or are pro- vided or recommended by the tool manufacturer.
The use of tools other than those described in the
operating instructions or in the catalogue of recom- mended tool inserts or accessories can result in a risk of personal injury.