52 Weeks of Safety Vol. 2 - WEEK 3 HAND TOOLS

By Carl Potter CSP, CMC

More injuries occur from misuse of hand tools than any other hazard in the workplace. Moreover, it’s likely more injuries from hand tools go unreported than any other type of injure, so let’s explore some ways to control this hazard

In one of my safety leadership seminars, a general foreman said that he believed one employee injury experienced in his workplace couldn’t be prevented. It seems that the worker was tightening a nut and bolt in an elevated work area when the wrench he was using slipped off the nut. The wrench literally flew into the face of another worker who looked up when he said, “Look out!” In the construction and maintenance trade you are taught to not look up when someone says, “look out”, “look out below” or “headache!”. We also learn to control the tool so that it doesn’t become a projectile.

Using a sprung wrench or the wrong size tool can lead to an injury and damaged bolt heads and nuts. Taking the time to make sure we are using the right tool is important to safety and a quality job. My dad was a professional mechanic and I don’t know how many times he scolded me as a kid for having an open-end wrench on backwards or using a 12 point socket instead of a 6 point socket (this prevents rounding of the head and also breaking the tool). Any hand tool used improperly can quickly send a worker to the emergency room.

Screw drivers that are used in place of a pry bar, chisel or alignment tool can be just as hazardous. When a screw driver head is struck by a hammer like a chisel, the result is a loose handle that will later slip causing the worker fall. If the tip of the screw driver was damaged and no longer fits the screw it was intended to turn, it can slip as well. In either case, the misuse of the screw driver causes the tool to become hazardous to the person and the equipment.

This week in your team safety discussion, consider the hand tools used by you and your co-workers. Ask for examples of how these tools can be misused and become a hazard. In addition, make sure everyone knows what to do if a tool is found damaged. Do this so that we can hit the goal: “Nobody Gets Hurt.”

OSHA
1915.133(a)
Employers shall not issue or permit the use of unsafe hand tools.
1915.133(b)
Wrenches, including crescent, pipe, end and socket wrenches, shall not be used when jaws are sprung to the point that slippage occurs.
1915.133(c)
Impact tools, such as drift pins, wedges, and chisels, shall be kept free of mushroomed heads.

--------------------------QUESTION-------------------------------------

1. What should a worker do when a chisel is inspected and found to be dull and the head is mushroomed?

a) Dress (grind) the mushroomed head before use
b) Sharpen the cutting edge
c) Tag it and turn it into the tool room for repair
d) Both a) and b), also c) if applicable to your worksite

2. A sprung wrench or spanner can lead to personal injuries from _________.

a) Slipping off of a nut being held or loosened
b) The foreman getting mad because the tool is damaged
c) The user getting mad and throwing it at a co-worker
d) Both a) and b)

Answer is at bottom of page

-------------------------------ANSWER-------------------------------
1. d)
2. a)