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Education
Educate yourself and your employees on the proper use of hand
tools that are used in your line of work. Never take chances, read
the instruction and owners manual.
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Wear approved eye protection
Industrial-quality eye protection should be worn at all times.
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Wear proper clothing
This varies depending on the type of hand tool you are working
with. Work clothing should not be loose, baggy, or highly
flammable. To protect against burns, wear clothing such as
coveralls, high-top shoes, leather aprons and leather gloves.
Remove all paper from pockets and wear cuffless pants.
When working with heavy metals wear steel-toed shoes with
non-skid soles. Avoid wearing synthetic clothing because it has a
low flashpoints which can result in severe burns. Do not wear
jewelry. It can get caught in moving parts or act as a
conductor around electrical connections and components.
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Protect your hair, scalp, and
head
Pull back long hair in a band or a cap to keep it from getting
caught in tools. Be extremely careful with long hair when using a
drill or drill press. When handling carpentry materials wear a
hard hat or bump cap to protect your head.
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Watch your fingers
Take special care when hammering so that you strike the
object, not your fingers.
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Avoid horseplay
Loud talking as well as pushing, running, and scuffling while
working with hand tools can cause serious accidents. Be alert and
work defensively.
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Keep work area and tools clean
Dirty, greasy, and oily tools and floors can cause accidents.
Clean and put away all unneeded tools and materials. Clean up
spills and scraps from the floor and equipment. Keep paths to
exits clear. If conditions are dusty, use a respirator.
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Use tools properly
Always use proper-sized tools and equipment for the job. Use
each tool only for the job for which it was intended. Forcing a
small tool to do the job of a large one may result in injury or
tool damage. Never use a screw driver to see if electrical
circuits are live/hot. Never use a machinist's hammer in place of
a carpenter's hammer. Do not strike a hardened steel surface with
a steel hammer because a small piece of steel may break off and
injure someone.
Be sure wrenches fit properly. Never use pliers in place of a
wrench. Never strike wrenches with hammers. Pull on wrenches, do
not push. When sawing secure the material in the saw vise.
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Keep cutting-edge tools sharp
Dull cutting-edge tools are dangerous as they require
excessive pressure and hammering to make them cut. When cutting
always cut away from the body. Before using any cutting tool,
remove nails or other objects that might destroy the tool's
cutting edge.
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Carry and store tools properly
All sharp-edge tools and chisels should be carried with the
cutting edge down. Never carry sharp tools in a pocket. Store all
sharp-edge cutting tools with the sharp edges down.
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Inspect tools before using
Avoid using damaged tools. Tools that appear to be damaged or
have broken handles should be marked unsafe. Do not use them until
they have been repaired.
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Grip tools firmly
Hold hand tools securely so that they do not slip and hit
someone. If you do wear gloves, make sure they fit securely and
have a no slip surface.
