Hand Tool Safety

  • Tool Stoarge Unit (boxes,chests,cabinets)
  • Wrenches
  • Striking Wrenches
  • Hand Sockets, Handles, & Attachments
  • Impact Sockets
  • Screwdrivers and Nutdrivers
  • Hex Keys
  • Pliers
  • Shears & Snips
  • Hammers
  • Punches, Chisels, Pry Bars
  • C-Clamps
  • Miscellaneous Tools & Accessories 
  • TOOL STORAGE UNIT (boxes, chests, cabinets)

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Do not stand or climb on drawers.
    • Do not open more than one drawer at a time.
    • Never pull your tool storage unit. Always push so you can see the direction you are traveling and avoid obstacles. Move tool storage units in a controlled manner on smooth, level surfaces.
    • Never use a tool storage unit for an anvil, workbench, ladder, or similar purpose.
    • Do not stand on tool boxes, tool chests or tool cabinets.
    • Do not overload drawers.
    • Do not move a tool storage unit without locking or securing all drawers or lids.
    • Never leave tools unattended on top of a tool storage unit.
    • Make sure that wheels on tool storage units turn freely.
    • Set the brakes on locking casters when the storage unit is at the work area.

    WRENCHES

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and shall not be used on or near live electrical circuits.
    • Wrenches are to be used by hand only. Do not use cheater bars or any other means of increasing leverage. The only wrenches that can be struck with a hammer are striking wrenches.
    • Never use wrenches for prying or as a hammer.
    • Never expose any wrench to excessive heat, which may change the hardness or microstructure and ruin the tool.
    • Wrenches are to be used to turn (tighten and loosen) fasteners.
    • Users shall apply a controlled force with a stance adjusted and braced to prevent rapid bodily movement or a fall if a sudden release occurs.
    • Use the correct size wrench, do not use metric wrenches on inch fasteners or inch wrenches on metric fasteners because the fit is not good enough.
    • Always be sure to fully seat an open-end wrench on the nut or bolt.
    • Adjustable wrenches need to be tightly adjusted to fit the nut with the force applied to the fixed jaw. Never use adjustable wrenches for the initial breaking loose of a “frozen” fastener or for final tightening.
    • Pipe wrenches are designed to turn or hold pipe; never use a pipe wrench to bend. Do not use pipe wrenches on square stock.
    • Inspect each pipe wrench or adjustable wrench before use for worn or broken teeth, thumbscrews or jaws and discard if deteriorated.
    • Inspect and discard bent, worn or cracked wrenches.
    • Wrench opening configurations shall be inspected before each use and their use discontinued at the first sign of significant wrenching surface deterioration.
    • Wrenches shall not be used when jaws are sprung to the point slippage may occur.

    STRIKING  WRENCHES

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Striking wrenches are special-purpose tools designed and intended only for use with heavy-duty fasteners where shock or impact is needed to fully tighten or loosen.
    • A striking tool shall always be used with the striking face parallel to the struck face of the Glancing blows, overstrikes and under strikes need to be avoided. No surface of the wrench other than the strike face shall be struck. The striking tool of the appropriate size shall have a striking face diameter not less than 3/8" larger than the struck face of the wrench.
    • Users shall apply a controlled force with a stance adjusted and braced to prevent rapid bodily movement or a fall if a sudden release occurs.
    • Striking wrenches shall not be used with “cheater” pipes or other means to extend the length of the tool.
    • Striking wrenches shall be inspected prior to each use and their use discontinued at the first sign of bending of the shank or chipping or cracking of the box end or striking end. Deformation of the wrenching configuration may occur from tool usage.
    • Striking wrenches shall be inspected prior to each use and their use discontinued at the first sign of significant wrenching surface deterioration.
    • At the first indication of mushrooming, the strike face and struck face chamfer of the striking wrench shall be redressed to its original contour by the use of a hand file or whetstone.
    • Except for the struck face, no area, section, or a portion of the striking wrench shall be ground, welded, treated by reheating, or otherwise altered from the original condition as furnished by the manufacturer.
    • Care shall be exercised to prevent the wrench from dislodging from the fastener or nut while being impacted.

    HAND SOCKETS, HANDLES & ATTACHMENTS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and shall not be used on or near live electrical circuits.
    • Never use hand sockets or hand attachments on power drivers, impact drivers or hydraulic drivers. Black industrial sockets, Torx®sockets, and Torx® bit sockets are designed and finished to be hand sockets – not impact.
    • Never use cheater bars to increase handle leverage.
    • Never hammer on a ratchet or handle.
    • Never use ratchets or other handles as a hammer or pry bar.
    • Hand sockets are to be attached to ratchets and handles and used by hand to turn fasteners.
    • Users shall apply a controlled force with a stance adjusted and braced to prevent rapid bodily movement or a fall if a sudden release occurs.
    • Use the correct size socket, do not use metric sockets on inch fasteners or inch sockets on metric fasteners, because the fit is not good. Do not use hex sockets on square fasteners or square sockets on hex fasteners.
    • Place the socket all the way on the fastener.
    • Adaptor strength is limited to the smallest drive square member.
    • Never use sockets as a driver for hex or square bits or shafts.
    • Inspect and discard bent, worn or cracked sockets, handles or attachments.
    • Socket opening configurations shall be inspected before each use and their use discontinued at the first sign of significant wrenching surface deterioration.

    IMPACT  SOCKETS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Do not hold impact sockets, universal joints or extensions while an impact tool is running. A serious hand injury can occur.
    • 3/4” drive and larger drive size impact sockets require the use of a retainer ring or a Pin & O-ring to secure the socket to the driving square.
    • Never use a nail or homemade pin for holding a socket in place.
    • Never exceed the manufacturer’s gun pressure rating
    • Impact sockets are to be used to turn (tighten or loosen) fasteners while being driven by a power, impact or hydraulic driver.
    • Never dwell on a socket after it has stopped running. This can damage both the socket and the fastener.
    • Place the socket all the way on the fastener before starting the gun.
    • Adaptor strength is limited to the smallest drive square member.
    • Mind the joints between the gun and fasteners for less loss of torque and less wear.
    • Use the correct size socket, do not use metric sockets on inch fasteners or inch sockets on metric fasteners, because the fit is not good enough. Do not use hex sockets on square fasteners or square sockets on hex fasteners.
    • Never use sockets as a driver for hex or square bits or shafts.
    • Large drive impact sockets are inherently heavy and care needs to be taken during handling.
    • Socket opening configurations shall be inspected before each use and their use discontinued at the first sign of significant wrenching surface deterioration.
    • Inspect and discard worn or cracked sockets.

    SCREWDRIVERS AND NUTDRIVERS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and screwdrivers and nut drivers shall not be used on or near live electrical circuits.
    • Users shall apply a controlled force with a stance adjusted and braced to prevent rapid bodily movement or a fall if a sudden release occurs. Minimize pressure. Screws are driven by torque (turning power), not pressure.
    • Match the type of screwdriver to the head of the screw and select the appropriate size screwdriver to do the job.
    • Never sharpen or alter a screwdriver to change the fit.
    • Use the correct size nut driver to fit the Do not use inch nut drivers on metric fasteners or metric nut drivers on inch fasteners because the fit is not good enough.
    • Never use a screwdriver or nut driver for prying, punching, chiseling, scoring or scraping.
    • Never hammer on screwdrivers or nut drivers and never use a screwdriver or a nut driver as a hammer.
    • Never use cheater bars to increase handle leverage.
    • Never expose any screwdriver or nut driver to excessive heat, which may change the hardness or microstructure and ruin the tool.
    • Never use pliers on the handle of a screwdriver or nut driver to get extra turning power. A wrench can be used on the square shank or bolster of screwdrivers designed for that purpose.
    • Keep handles clean for a secure grip.
    • Inspect and discard bent, worn, cracked, or damaged screwdrivers. Do not grind or attempt to repair screwdrivers.

    HEX KEYS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and shall not be used on or near live electrical circuits.
    • Users shall apply a controlled force with a stance adjusted and braced to prevent rapid bodily movement or a fall if a sudden release occurs.
    • Never hammer on a hex key.
    • Never use a pipe or cheater bar on the handle or key end.
    • Do not repair hex key wrenches.
    • Inspect and discard bent, deformed or cracked hex key tools.

    PLIERS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and pliers shall not be used on or near live electrical circuits.
    • Users shall apply a controlled force with a stance adjusted and braced to prevent rapid bodily movement or a fall if a sudden release occurs.
    • Choose the right plier for the job.
    • Pliers shall not be used for cutting hardened wire unless specifically designed for this purpose.
    • When cutting wire, always cut at right angles. Never rock from side to side or bend the wire back and forth against the cutting edges.
    • Don’t bend stiff wire with light pliers. Select the proper size plier.
    • Pliers shall not be used on nuts or bolts. A wrench will do the job better and with less risk of damage to the fastener.
    • Oil pliers occasionally at the joint only. Take care to keep the handles clean for a secure grip.
    • Never use a plier for prying, punching, chiseling, scoring or scraping.
    • Never hammer on pliers and never use a plier as a hammer.
    • Never use cheater bars to increase leverage.
    • Never expose any plier to excessive heat, which may change the hardness or microstructure and ruin the tool.
    • Never use pliers on the handle of a screwdriver or nut driver to get extra turning power.
    • Inspect and discard bent, worn, cracked or damaged pliers. Do not grind or attempt to repair pliers.

    SHEARS & SNIPS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and shall not be used on or near live electrical circuits.
    • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, capacity, and proper care of the snips
    • Be careful of the sharp cutting edges of the cutting blades. Keep blades closed when snip is not in use. Use safety latch to keep blades closed on available models.
    • Be careful of the sharp edges of the material being cut when snips are used. Always wear gloves when working with snips.
    • Never use a snip to cut sheet metal thicker than 1/16" (.062").
    • Never use snips to cut heavy wire, cable, nails, rod, as these materials may damage the cutting edge or the shearing action of the snip.
    • Use the right size and style of snip for the job. Do not cut tight curves with a straight pattern snip. Use offset models for long cuts through large sheets of material.
    • Avoid springing the This is the result of trying to cut material that is too thick.
    • Use only hand pressure for cutting. Never hammer, use cheater bars or use feet to try and increase pressure.
    • Do not attempt to re-sharpen a snip blade in a sharpening device designed for knives, scissors, or garden tools.

    HAMMERS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and shall not be used on or near live electrical circuits.
    • Hammer heads shall be inspected prior to each use and the hammer discarded if it shows chipping, dents, cracks, mushrooming or excessive wear.
    • Inspect handles before each use. Never use a hammer with a loose or damaged handle.
    • Hammer blows must be struck squarely to the surface being hit.
    • Avoid glancing blows.
    • When striking another tool (punch, chisel, wedge), the striking face of the proper hammer must have a diameter at least 3/8" larger than the face of the struck tool.
    • Keep striking faces free of oil and grease.
    • Never use one hammer to strike another hammer.
    • Never strike with the side (cheek) of a hammer.
    • Nail hammers are intended to drive or pull unhardened nails only.
    • Never strike hardened objects with a nail hammer
    • Never use a soft face hammer to drive a nail or any hardened object.
    • Use dead blow hammers to minimize vibration.
    • Instructors and Employers shall train users and stress proper lifting and swinging techniques for each striking tool application.
    • No area, section, or a portion of a hammer shall be ground, welded, reheated, or otherwise altered from its original shape.

    PUNCHES, CHISELS, PRY BARS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and shall not be used on or near a live electrical circuit.
    • Metal cutting chisels are special purpose tools designed and intended for the cutting, shaping, and removal of a metal softer than the cutting edge of the chisel. To avoid possible bodily injury, chisels must not be used on objects as hard as or harder than the chisel cutting edge. Do not use chisels on stone or concrete.
    • When using chisels, the cutting edge must be pointed away from the user and any Keep hands away from the cutting edge.
    • Chisels and punches must not be used for prying or wedging, and no surface of the punch or chisel can be struck other than the struck face.
    • When striking a punch or chisel, the striking face of the proper hammer must have a diameter at least 3/8" larger than the struck face of the chisel or punch. A hammer blow must be struck squarely with the hammer face parallel with the struck face of the chisel or punch. Avoid glancing blows.
    • Chisels, punches, and pry bars shall be inspected before each use and their use discontinued at the first sign of excessive wear, chipping, cracking, bending or mushrooming of any surfaces.
    • Never use a chisel or punch with a mushroomed struck face, a bent stem, or a chipped, dull or deformed cutting edge or point.
    • Never hammer a pry bar or use a pry bar as a hammer.
    • No area, section, or a portion of a chisel, punch, or pry bar shall be ground, welded, reheated, or otherwise altered from its original shape.
    • Users shall apply a controlled force with a stance adjusted and braced to prevent rapid bodily movement or a fall if a sudden release occurs. Users need to take extra care when using pry bars to avoid bar slippage. Users must also avoid bodily strain when using pry bars.
    • The point end diameter of the starter punch or pin punch must approximate the size of the workpiece.
    • Pin punches must not be used as a starting (solid) punch.
    • Drift or lining punches are special purpose tools intended for aligning and sizing holes and must not be used for driving metal or other hard objects.

    C-CLAMPS

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Select C-clamps of proper size and capacity to handle the job.
    • Always inspect clamps before use. Never use a C-clamp with:
      • Bent, twisted or cracked frame
      • Badly worn threads on spindle
      • Bent or cracked spindle
      • Swivel pads badly worn, not turning freely, or missing from spindle
    • Never use a hammer or pipe extension to tighten a C-clamp; only tighten to prevent slippage. If a wrench is used on a C-clamp, do not exceed the recommended “nominal clamping pressure.”
    • Never use a C-clamp as a permanent holding device; always use a clamp only as a temporary holding tool.
    • Never use a C-clamp to secure loads on moving vehicles.
    • Never use a C-clamp with chain, strap, cable or hook to lift or move a load or work object.
    • Never use a C-clamp to hoist or support any scaffolding.
    • Never use a C-clamp as a safety eye hold.
    • Never weld any parts of a C-clamp to other metal objects.
    • Store C-clamps by clamping them in a rack, not in a drawer.

    MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS & ACCESSORIES

    • Users and bystanders must wear safety goggles.
    • To avoid possible eye injury from flying objects, safety goggles or equivalent protection conforming to ANSI 1 shall be worn and kept clean by the user and all persons in the immediate area where any tool is being used.
    • Comfort or plastic grips on handles are not intended to give any degree of protection against electric shock and shall not be used on or near a live electrical circuit.
    • Users shall apply a controlled force with a stance adjusted and braced to prevent rapid bodily movement or a fall if a sudden release occurs.
    • Never hammer or pry with scrapers, utility knives or extractors. Never use scrapers or utility knives as screwdrivers.
    • Keep blades of utility knives and razor scrapers retracted in the housing except during use. Do not use dull blades. Keep free hand away from cutting edge.
    • Hacksaw blades shall be taut. Do not use dull saw blades. Keep free hand away from the saw blade when sawing.
    • No area, section or portion of hacksaws, utility knives, scrapers or extractors shall be ground, welded, heated or altered from their original shape.
    • Prior to each use, hacksaws, utility knives, scrapers and extractors shall be inspected and their use discontinued at the first sign of bending or wear.
    • Do not open tape measure case. The tape is under spring tension.
    • Control the retraction of the measuring tape to prevent injury to hands or other bodily parts.