Sometimes the smallest tools can prove the biggest risks – and this is why it’s important to address OSHA hand and power tool safety.
As the business owner, it’s your responsibility to enforce the following five rules to ensure worker safety and OSHA compliance:
- regular maintenance of tools,
- examination of each tool before use for damage,
- use of the appropriate tool for each job,
- tools operated as per manufacturer’s instructions, and
- correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Staff training is important to ensure safety and achieve compliance, but before we reach that step, here’s a guide on everything you need to know about OSHA hand and power tool safety.
How To Avoid the Hazards of Hand Tools
Here are some good starting points to focus on when working towards OSHA compliance:
- Use the right tool for the right function. For example, a chisel used as a screwdriver could cause the tip to break and harm the user or other workers.
- Make sure wooden handles of tools, like hammers or axes aren’t loose, splintered, or cracked. This can cause the head of the tool to dismantle and strike the user or other workers.
- The jaws of a wrench shouldn’t be sprung, or else the wrench could slip.
- Mushroomed heads of impact tools can cause the heads to shatter on impact, with sharp fragments flying towards the user or other workers.
- Keep blades, knives and scissors sharp and handle with the blade directed away from other workers. Remove cracked blades for maintenance.
- Steel and iron hand tools can be a fire hazard by producing sparks if used around flammable substances. Use tools made from non-ferrous materials (material other than metal or steel) where there's any chance that flammable gases or highly volatile liquids are present.
How To Avoid the Hazards of Power Tools
Anything involving electricity needs extra care and precaution to reduce the risk of injury in the workplace.
OSHA requirements around power tools include:
- The appropriate PPE must be worn when operating power tools.
- Floors must be kept clean and dry to prevent slipping.
- Tools must have guards and safety switches fitted.
- Tools shouldn’t be carried by the cord or hose.
- The cord or hose should be disconnected from the receptacle gently.
- Keep power tools’ cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges, and ensure they can’t be tripped over.
- When power tools are not in use, they should be disconnected to avoid accidental starting. Also, remove fingers from the switch button when carrying tools.
- Power tools should be disconnected before cleaning and changing blades.
- Both hands should be free to operate the power tools, so a vice or clamps should be used.
What PPE Must Be Worn for Occupational Safety?
When it comes to PPE, there are basic items OSHA requires when using hand and power tools, such as:
- safety glasses;
- safety shields,
- respirators,
- safety-toed shoes,
- high-top shoes,
- hard hats,
- bump caps,
- leather gloves,
- leather aprons, and
- coveralls.
According to OSHA regulations, eye protection should be industrial quality with an ANSI Z87.1 logo. In addition, they must be worn at all times to ensure occupational safety.
There are also specific protective items that should be worn when performing certain operations. For example, when working with carpentry, a hard hat or bump cap should be worn to protect the head.
OSHA safety and health regulations surrounding clothing include:
- clothing shouldn’t be baggy or loose,
- leather clothing is preferred as it isn’t highly flammable like synthetic clothing, and
- jewelry shouldn’t be worn as it can get caught in moving parts, and long hair should be tied up.
What Training Is Required?
While there are various general rules for all workers, there are also certain aspects of hand and power tools that require specific training.
For example, employees who work with particular tools require specialized training on:
- how to operate that tool safely,
- what its safety hazards are,
- how to clean and change its parts,
- how to perform an examination before use to ensure no damages, and
- what PPE is required when operating the tool.
How Can Insure Compliance Help?
We believe that a safe work environment shouldn’t be mutually exclusive with an employer’s profitability.
In fact, we believe that the extensive training programs that we offer can be infinitely beneficial to reach OSHA safety compliance and save you money on fines and penalties as a result.
When it comes to hand and power tool safety, we focus on all parties involved, from owners to employees.
If each person knows how to do their respective job safely, and is able to recognize potential hazards, less time needs to be wasted on performing checks and corrections. Owners can have faith that their employees are working safely, and employees can trust that the equipment and PPE supplied to them is of the required standard.
How Our Safety Gap Model Can Help
If you don’t know where to begin, we offer a Safety Assessment that uses our unique Safety Gap Model.
Using this model, we can address the symptoms we find when there are gaps in a safety program and provide the necessary solutions.
Key Takeaways
Employers and employees alike require adequate training to ensure occupational safety when using hand and power tools.
But, avoiding hand and power tool hazards isn’t enough to ensure OSHA compliance. The correct PPE, recording OSHA logs and being prepared for OSHA inspection all come into play.
While training on the occupational safety of using hand and power tools in the workplace is crucial, we can help you cover that and more.
To protect your employees’ safety and health, and your own pocket from fines and penalties, contact us today to get started.
Disclaimer:
Please note that every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this guide is accurate. You should note, however, that the information is intended as a guide only, providing an overview of general information available to businesses. This guide is not intended to be an exhaustive source of information and should not be seen to constitute legal, safety or business advice. You should, where necessary, seek your own advice for any issues raised in your affairs.
