30 Tips for Hand and Power Tool Safety

Workplace Safety

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More than one million people are hurt using hand and power tools every year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Not only do people suffer physically, but their injuries also often hurt them financially. Their employers lose money, too. The CPSC reports injuries with hand and power tools cost $15.4 million a year in medical bills and lost work. Many of the visits to hospitals and doctors’ offices could be prevented with more attention to hand and power tool safety.

HSI’s mission is to make the workplace safer and smarter. Thus, we offer the following tips for hand and power tool safety. According to OSHA, these are the leading causes of injuries from using hand and power tools:

• Wooden handles break, causing the head of the tool to fly off and hit the user or others.
• Employees are exposed to harmful dust, fumes, or gasses.
• Workers using power tools that aren’t grounded properly get shocked.

Accidents on the job happen more frequently when employees are doing a repetitive job, something unexpected happens, or they are inexperienced or overconfident about using the tool. These tips for hand and power tool safety help employees stay safe and perform well.

Choose the Right Tools and Take Care of Them

OSHA protects employees by requiring companies to ensure their employees use safe tools and equipment and follow safety guidelines. No matter how many years an employee has under his belt, reviewing the following tips for hand and power tool safety regularly is critical to staying safe.

1. Buy quality tools. Hammers with wooden handles are not as safe as those made of steel hand tools. Make sure steel tools are heat-treated.
2. Regularly inspect tools to ensure they are in good condition and work properly.
3. If you find something wrong with a tool, don’t use it, and report the problem to your manager.
4. Perform regular maintenance on your tools, like grinding or sharpening saw blades.
5. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Keep extra tools handy in case the tool you had planned to use is damaged.
7. Make sure to store your tools in a safe place, keeping sharp edges from children and others who may get hurt trying to use the tools.
8. When working up high, do not leave tools where they could fall on workers below.

Tips for Hand and Power Tool Safety - Electric Tools

Because of the potential dangers involved in using power tools OSHA provides specific safety guidelines for their use. OSHA requires many handheld power tools to be equipped with a constant-pressure switch button that cuts off the power when pressure drops including drills, tappers, angle grinders, saws, and sanders. Many power tools with blades must have safety devices that allow the user to shut the tool off in a single motion.

One of the most serious workplace injuries involving tools is electrical shock from power tools. Electrical shocks can cause heart failure and burns. Sometimes a worker is shocked while on a ladder, then loses their balance and is injured in a fall. Tips for preventing electrical shock are at the top of the list of ways to stay safe using power tools.

1. Use tools that are double-insulated or have a three-pointed power cord and are plugged into a power source with a rounded receptacle.
2. Do not use electric tools in wet conditions unless they are approved for that use.
3. Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) or an assured grounding program. Use the appropriate PPI like face protection or leather work gloves.
4. Keep your work area dry and clean to avoid slipping while working with or around dangerous electric power tools.
5. Be sure to find good footing, maintain balance, and secure your work with clamps or a vise to free both of your hands for safe use of power tools.
6. Never carry portable electric tools by their cords and do not yank them from the power source.
7. Prevent accidental starting by keeping your fingers away from the switch button while carrying a power tool.

Tips for Using Pneumatic Tools Safely

Pneumatic nail gun accidents send 37,000 carpenters to the emergency room each year according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Most people have wounds on their fingers or hands. Sometimes, they have more serious injuries, like eye injuries.

Wearing eye and face protection is an important safety measure for working with pneumatic nail guns and OSHA watches companies carefully to make sure workers are protected. In its FY report on the most frequent safety violations, OSHA reports construction companies’ failure to meet standards for face and eye protection were among the top ten violations in FY.

Safety experts urge construction companies to take steps to improve safety if necessary. These tips for hand and power tool safety related to pneumatic tools are a good place to improve your attention to safety.

1. Verify that all parts of the tool are fastened securely before each use.
2. Never point a compressed air gun at yourself or another person.
3. When you are finished using an air gun, make sure the pressure is released before you break the hose connections. Never store an air gun that is loaded.
4. Use a safety clip or retainer to prevent attachments from being ejected during operation, and use a chip guard when using high-pressure compressed air for cleaning. Be sure to limit the nozzle pressure to 30 pounds per square inch.
5. Always wear eye protection.
6. Ensure a secure work environment by using screens to protect nearby workers from flying fragments.
7. Never leave tools unattended.

How to Prepare Yourself and Your Space for Staying Safe

Using tools safely includes more than knowing the tools. Employees must pay attention to what they wear, how they carry their tools, and where they stand. To protect employees from the dangers of slips and electrical shock, managers should ensure floors are kept as clean and dry as possible. Tips for hand and power tool safety include choosing the right clothing:

1. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry that can get caught in a tool’s moving parts.
2. Stay safe by wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), like leather gloves, safety goggles, or face shields.
3. Make sure your work area is level and you have good balance when using tools.
4. Be aware of the people around you and ensure they stay a safe distance from your workspace.
5. Never climb a ladder with a tool in your hand. Instead, find someone on the ground to hoist tools to you with a bucket or bag on a rope.
6. Don’t carry pointed tools in your pocket. Carry them in a toolbox or cart instead.
7. Use the right tool for the job. For example, don’t use a wrench to pound in a nail when you should be using a hammer.
8. When appropriate, secure your project with a clamp or vise to keep it from slipping.

The Best Performance Starts with Safety Training

OSHA requires employers to train employees on the proper use of tools and equipment. Go over these tips for hand and power tool safety regularly with your employees and consider taking safety management a step further by partnering with HSI. We provide tools for engaging your employees in training and making safety top-of-mind at your company.

One HSI partner says that not only do workers enjoy the safety training and comment that they frequently learn something new, the addition of the HSI training platform and content has reduced injuries and incidents.

“we’re at 722 days incident-free...and I attribute that to training.”

Whether you’re a master craftsperson or new to woodworking, you’ll need some essential woodworking power tools for your projects. Shapes, sizes and costs will vary. There are corded and cordless versions of most of these tools as well. With advances in battery technology, sometimes a cordless version might be better than a corded one.

When it comes time to drill, drive, cut, plane, join, route or sand, you’ll reach for one of these power tools.

• Drill and Driver Combo

  Read More 259.0042% OFF$149 at Amazon

• Router

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• Palm Router

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• Sander

  Read More 79.0016% OFF$66.64 at Amazon

• Planer

  Read More 179.005% OFF$170.67 at Amazon

• Jigsaw

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• Biscuit Joiner

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• Track Saw

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• Oscillating Tool

  Read More 304.2439% OFF$186 at Amazon

On Sale Lowest Price in 30 days

Drill and Driver Combo

Pros:

• Strong 20V motors
• Great battery life
• More than 200 other DeWalt tools use the same batteries
• Three-year warranty

Cons:

• Wish they had larger Ah batteries

Any beginner should start with a drill and driver combo as their first power tools. A drill and impact driver are each useful in their own way, but it’s much cheaper and more convenient to buy them together. That way you avoid multiple batteries/chargers laying around your shop.

The DeWalt 20-Volt Max Lithium Ion Drill Driver/Impact Driver Combo Kit is an excellent choice for any woodworker out there. These models feature a compact and lightweight design, LED lights, and ergonomic handles for comfort and control. The kit also includes two 1.3 amp-hour (Ah) batteries, a battery charger and carrying bag.

With more than 36,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this combo kit is the real deal. Here are a few power tools storage ideas to help you organize your workshop.

Router

Pros:

• Pistol grip handle
• Powerful motor
• Quiet

Cons:

• Expensive
• Base must be removed to access collet

A router is one of the most versatile woodworking tools in the shop and my go-to. By spinning cutters or bits at speeds between 6,000 and 24,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), a router can create slots and grooves, shape edges, straighten material and even make joinery.

Routers are powerful, usually rated between 1-3/4- and 3-1/4-horsepower (hp). Each come with 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch collets for bits with different sized shafts. If a fence is added, the router tracks along the board’s edge, or a plunge base allows precise depth cutting.

The variable speed Makita D-Handle Router features a 2-1/4-hp motor and comfortable pistol-grip handle for extra stability. It comes with a smooth start system, trigger lock button and sturdy grip that can be adjusted for right-handers and lefties.

Are you interested in learning more about power tool accessories supplier? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Palm Router

Pros:

• Includes edge guide and plunge base
• Strong variable speed motor
• Single wrench bit changing

Cons:

• Expensive
• Poor micro-adjustment system

A palm router is smaller and less powerful than a full-sized router, making it ideal for edge details, beveling and other light tasks. The first versions of this tool were called trim routers because cabinetmakers used them when trimming laminate on countertops. However, it soon became apparent a lightweight one-handed router would be useful.

The small base plate improves visibility, and the lower torque makes the tool easier to control. The Bosch Colt 1.25 HP Variable-Speed Palm Router Combination Kit offers lots of features, including an edge guide and separate fixed and plunge bases.

On Sale

Sander

Pros:

• Effective dust collection
• Variable speed motor
• Included storage bag

Cons:

• Not for quick material removal

Most projects involve some smoothing of wood, and random orbital sanders are the practical way to accomplish this. Available in five- and six-inch diameters, these sanders feature abrasives discs that attach to the sanding pad with hook-and-loop or a sticker-like adhesive.

The Bosch Sander’s soft body reduces vibration and takes hook-and-loop abrasives with eight holes for dust collection. The unit features a variable speed dial and dust filter system. It can connect to your shop vac for larger sanding jobs.

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Planer

Pros:

• Automatic kickstand
• Edge chamfering groove
• Affordable replacement blades

Cons:

• Dust collection port not included

The old saying goes, “Bring the material to the tool, or the tool to the material.” This is definitely the case here! Handheld power planers aren’t necessary for every shop, but they’re invaluable for flattening rough lumber, fitting doors and straightening studs.

It takes patience and a lot of elbow grease to operate a traditional hand plane for these types of tasks. A tool like the DeWalt 3-1/4-Inch Hand Planer, which spins at 34,000 rpm and can take up to a 1/16-inch-deep cut, can complete these tasks in no time. Plus, when blades wear out you can replace or sharpen them inexpensively.

Jigsaw

Pros:

• Cordless
• Variable speed trigger

Cons:

• No work light
• Battery charger not included

Cutting curves can be challenging, but a humble jigsaw simplifies the process. The Craftsman 20V Cordless Variable Speed Jigsaw comes with an adjustable base for cutting angles, three settings to adjust cut aggressiveness, and a quick clamp for tool-free blade changes.

Jigsaws can cut wood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), aluminum, steel, plastic and PVC. Though less powerful than a band saw, the jigsaw is ideal for large projects where it’s easier to bring it to the workpiece due to its light weight and accuracy.

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Biscuit Joiner

Pros:

• Includes dust bag and storage case
• Ergonomic trigger
• User friendly

Cons:

• Poor dust collection
• Precision tool — don't drop it
• More expensive than its peers

This handheld tool is ideal for gluing up boards. It features a small blade that spins horizontally, notching a crescent-shaped slot into a piece of wood. A mirroring slot can then be cut into the adjacent board before they’re glued.

A fence makes the slots align perfectly. Then a compressed football-shaped ‘biscuit’ is inserted, bringing the parts together. Glue swells the compressed biscuit, making an ultra-strong joint. The Porter Cable Plate Joiner comes with a comfortable handle with trigger and a fence that accurately adjusts. Depth of cut can be adjusted for different sized biscuits.

Track Saw

Pros:

• Limits the need for a table saw
• Excellent dust collection
• Precise

Cons:

• Plunge cutting takes getting used to
• Factor in a spoil board
• Best to buy the clamps to hold the rail

Cutting up full sheets of plywood isn’t the easiest on a full sized cabinet saw, let alone a small jobsite version. That’s why I purchased a track saw when I started out building cabinets out of my garage.

Again, it’s always easier to move a lightweight saw over heavy material than the other way around. And though it took much longer to line up each individual cut, the quality was comparable to even the nicest blades on a table saw, especially when crosscutting plywood or melamine.

The Makita LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 6-1/2-in. Plunge Circular Saw is awesome. The dual 18V batteries deliver plenty of power. This saw is super accurate with excellent dust collection.

Because a track saw cuts from the above, it needs an extra piece of plywood or a rigid insulation sheet to act as a spoil board underneath. This will be slightly cut to ensure the blade has made it through your workpiece.

For more 60V Outdoor Power Equipmentinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.