1. GROUNDING
ELECTREC TOOLS
A recent accident involving a portable electric drill and resulting in burns to a
workman warrants a review of electrically powered tools. Regarding this particular
accident the employee was standing on IPOP of a form about 6 feet from floor level and was
preparing to drill holes with an electric drill. The employee had an arm around a metal
pole for support When the drill was turned on the man received a severe shock and could
not release the Drill The dampness of perspiration plus placing his and around the metal
pole contributed to the electric shock. Another employee working nearby immediately pulled
the plug cutting off the power. The employee injured sustained burns to his neck and both
hands. Had the workman been alone, he might well have died.
Several years ago an Iowa
contractor had a young man using a portable grinder during the building of a high school.
It had just rained and the floor deck had several puddles on it. The young man stopped
work for a break, laid his grinder on edge of a shallow pool. Re was electrocuted
instantly when he returned and picked up the grinder If the tool had been grounded, he'd
be alive today.
Grounding of portable
electric tools provides the most convenient and efficient way of safe guarding the
operator. If there is any defect or short inside the tool, the current is drained from the
metal frame through a ground wire and does not pass through the operators body. The most
efficient method of grounding is through the use of the three wire system. If this system
is not possible then it is recommended that a ground be installed by fastening one end of
a wire at least number 18 gauge to the metal frame of the tool and the other end to a
ground by means of a battery clip or permanently attached clip. Insulating platforms,
rubber mats and rubber gloves are other means to guard against electrical shock. Tools
should be inspected frequently for the following malfunctions to reduce the hazard of
electrical shock.
1. Defective or broken
insulation or cord
2. Improper or poorly made connections to
the terminals
3. Broken or otherwise defective plug
4. Loose or broken switch
5. Brushes arcing
Remember the old saying, an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure.
top
2. GUARDS
PROTECT YOU
Whenever we hear of a terrible accident we have a tendency to say to ourselves that we
would never have done what the person who caused the accident did.
But when we examine a
large number of histories of such cases, we are surprised to find that the main cause of
the trouble, in almost every case, is the sort of thing that we, ourselves, have often
done. We have to conclude that we have just been lucky.
I would hate to ask for a
count on how many of us had ever removed a safety device from a machine and gone on using
the machine without protection. I am afraid that most of us would have to plead guilty.
Sometimes the guard gets
in the way and we are in a great hurry. We forget safety, remove the guard, and run the
risk of a serious accident to ourselves or others.
I have a story that comes
from an old style tin mill. In the hot mill department they had a floor level power shear
which trimmed one end of the hot packs after they had been partially rolled. The shear man
grasps the pack with tongs and thrusts it under the knife of the shear, which is in
continuous operation.
On one of these shears
there happened to be a crack in the steel floor plate just in front of the shear. A piece
of thin steel sheet had been put over it to keep the packs from catching in the crack. The
back edge of the thin sheet had been bent up slightly in the course of the operation.
There was a guard on the
knife which made it perfectly safe to operate, but it made it a little difficult for the
workman to get his packs over the bent-up edge of the thin sheet.
So he removed the guard
and operated the shear for more than half an hour without it. Soon a pack caught on the
bent sheet and the operator kicked at the edge to straighten it just as the shear knife
came down. All the toes on that foot were sheared off.
Now this was a perfectly
human thing for that workman to do; just the kind of thing that many workmen do and get
away with. But it was in direct violation of a safety rule, which says that workmen shall never
remove an existing guard, and that if the machine is defective, the foreman in charge
shall be notified at once.
This workman had a high
school education and admitted that he knew better than to remove the guard and operate the
shear without it. But some obstinacy or recklessness led him to violate the rule, violate
his own knowledge of what was safe and sensible, and lose five toes.
Re should have reported
that the floor patch interfered with his job.
As we have said again and again, we
are sorry for the fellow who gets hurt. But we cannot forget that did a very foolish thing
in removing the guard. We cannot excuse him, but he is not the only one who ever removed a
guard. Sooner or later though, that kind of a workman gets just such an awakening as came
to this young man. I am going to say something I think will be true for every man who has
worked for any length of many modern factory. I would like you to write it down and
remember it. Post it near some safety rail or guard, which you have sometimes wished was
out of the way. Here it is:
"You can thank the guards for your
life and safety."
I sincerely believe it is true. Without
these guards many mote of us would have lost eyes or legs, or hands, or even our lives.
Let us, therefore, always respect them and keep them where they belong
You can thank the guards for your life
and safety.
top
3. HANDLING
HAND TOOLS
Keep tools clean. Check their condition before you use them. If heads of striking
tools become mushroomed or burred, have them dressed. If handles are splintered, broken or
loose, have them replaced before you use the tool.
Each tool should have its
own storage place. Tools must be returned to their proper places, and not be allowed to
lie around where they could fall on, or trip, you or someone else.
Carrying tools in your
pockets is dangerous, especially if the tools are sharp or pointed. Use a kit or tool
belt.
Do not use excessive
pressure or force on any hand tool.
When chipping, or doing
other work that may cause particles to fly, protect your eyes by wearing eye protection.
Here are specific rules:
Screwdriver:
Use the right size and type of screwdriver for the job. Do not hold the work in the
palm of your hand - the screwdriver may slip and injure you. Screwdrivers should be filed
properly to prevent slipping. Do not hammer on them as you would a chisel or use them for
a pry.
Hammer:
Use a machinist's hammer for machine work and a claw hammer for carpentry work. In
using a sledge or maul, always look behind you before you begin your backswing.
Wrenches:
In using any wrench, it is better to pull than to push If it is necessary to push, use
your open palm. When using an adjustable wrench, exert pressure toward the movable jaw.
Stand to one side when you are pulling down on wrenches above your head. Do not hammer on
wrenches or use a pipe extension. Use a proper size wrench.
Saws:
Saws that are sharp and free of rust are less likely to bind or jump. Start cuts with
both wood saws and hack saws by guiding the blade with your thumb.
Files:
Do not use a file without a handle. Do not use a file for a pry as it is brittle and
breaks easily.
Pry Barn:
Be sure your bite is secure by applying first a slight pressure. Then check your own
balance before you exert your full force. This will prevent a fall in case the pry slips.
top
4. THE
CARE OF HAND TOOLS
Hand tools are used every day on a construction site They are used so much and so
often that the proper care is many times forgotten. As we list some important points on
proper care of hand tools please refresh your memory concerning these points
Proper Care of Tools
1. Take good care of tools. Use tools
carefully and you will have less need for a first-aid kit.
2. Keep tools clean. Protect them against
damage from corrosion. Dip tools occasionally in cleaning fluids or solvents and wipe them
clean. Lubricate adjustable and moving parts to prevent wear and misalignment.
3. Keep cutting edges sharp. Sharp tools
are much safer than dull ones.
4. When sharpening, redressing or
repairing tools, sharpen, grind, hone, file, fit, and set them properly, using other tools
suited to each purpose.
5. For sharpening tools, either an oil
stone or a grind stone is preferable.
6. Tools which are struck by hammers,
such as chisels or punches, should have the head ground periodically to prevent
mushrooming.
7. When tools are not in use keep them in
suitable boxes, racks, or trays. Put them down carefully and in an orderly manner on work
benches, with cutting edges turned away from you.
8. Place tools so they cannot fall and
where no one can strike against or trip over them.
Tools should be placed on elevated
benches, tables or platforms so they cannot roll or be kicked or knocked off.
9. When carrying tools protect the
cutting edges and carry the tools in such a way that you will not endanger yourself or
others.
10. Carry pointed or sharp-edged tools in
pouches or holsters.
11. Refit or replace loose or split
handles. Do not rely on friction tape to secure split handles.
12. Keep handles wedged tightly in the
heads of all tools. Keep them smooth and free of rough or jagged surfaces.
top
5. AVOIDING
HAND TOOL INJURIES
Hand tools have been with us probably as long as the use of fire has. And like fire,
hand tools cause their share of injuries to users.
For instance, according
to Accident Facts, hand tools are involved in six percent of all cases of
compensible work injuries. The average cost of a hand tool injury is listed as $850 - just
counting compensation costs.
Causes of hand tool
injuries can often be traced to some type of improper use of a hand tool - be it manual or
some type of power tool (electrical, hydraulic, gasoline, powder, etc.).
Some ways to avoid hand
tool injuries are:
Use the right tool for
the job. Some examples of misuse of tools are using a wrench as a hammer, pliers as a
wrench, and a claw hammer as a ball peen hammer.
Keep tools in good
condition, Broken or worn tools (wrenches with cracked or worn jaws, electric tools with
broken plugs, etc.) should be repaired or discarded.
Use tools in the way they
were intended to be used (e.g., instruct users to cut away from the body when using
knives, ground ~ electric tools, etc.).
Keep tools in a safe
place. Many accidents have been caused by tools falling from overhead, and by sharp tools
carried in pockets or left in toolboxes with the cutting edges exposed.
top
6. HANDLING
POWER TOOLS SAFELY
Power tools present far greater accident hazards than hand tools. Portable power tools
- because they must be handled - are even more dangerous an stationary power machinery.
The most frequent accidents are cuts, punctures, electric shock, burns and eye damage from
flying particles.
Nearly all power tool accidents are due
to improper handling and poor maintenance. Clean tools regularly.
Guards are for your protection. Power
tool hazards are vastly increased when workmen reject using the guards or wedge the guard
open on electric saws and other equipment.
Disconnect the power
source before adjusting, oiling or changing accessories never fail to replace the guards
afterward.
When stringing temporary
extension cords and hoses make certain that they are protected and do not present a
tripping hazard.
Make a daily check of the
insulation on the wires of the power tools that you are using and couplings on pneumatic
hoses. Repair or report them if they are frayed or broken.
Every electric power tool
must be grounded. This averts the possibility of the body of the operator becoming a part
of the energized circuit. Grounding is done automatically on unaltered three-pronged plugs
when the plug is inserted.
SAW SAFELY WITH SAWS
Operators of table must always have the guards in proper position
Even though the saw may
be guarded, it is advisable to employ a push stick to push work past the saw blade rather
than feed work with the hands only.
It is important that circular saws be
stopped completely before they are approached for adjustment. Idling saws can be the cause
of amputations.
Portable power saws must
be equipped with a free moving guard that covers the blade when the work is completed.
As feeding is entirely by hand with hand
saws and the hand must come close to the blade, the guard must not be too high.
Portable hand power saws must never be
used without the guard in sate working condition.
Chain saws require extreme caution. As
the cutting mechanism is exposed, proper protective clothing must be worn when using.
DRILLS - Before using a drill on a wall,
floor or ceiling make certain that it will not strike electric wires gas lines and high
pressure lines.
GRINDERS - Inspect the grinding wheel, as
a cracked wheel may fly to pieces. Portable grinders should be used with a retaining hood
covering at least half of the wheel.
SANDERS - The abrasive belt or disc
cannot be guarded so that caution is the only way of avoiding injury.
Sanders should be moved away from the
body when using.
POWDER ACTUATED TOOLS - Only properly
trained and certified operators should use powder actuated tools.
Tools must always be left unloaded until
ready for actual use. Studs should be driven a safe distance from the edge of material.
Operators should wear safety goggles or
face shields.
Do not use cartridge tools for driving
studs in walls, ceilings or floors when people are working on the other side.
Always use proper cartridge and stud for
the work at hand.
Treat powder actuated tools like powder
arms.
PNEUMATIC IMPACT TOOLS - Tools such as
jack hammers and riveting guns receive their impact from a piston driven by
compressed air.
Operators must wear safety goggles to
guard against flying chips, and screens should be set up to protect other employees
working nearby and the public.
top
7. ELECTRIC
PORTABLE TOOLS
A recent accident, involving a portable electric drill and resulting in burns to a
workrnan1 warrants a review of the use of electrically powered tools.
Concerning this particular accident, the
employee was standing on the top of a form, about six feet from floor level, preparing to
drill holes than electric drill. Employee had arm around metal pole for support - when
drill was turned on, an received shock and could not release grip on the drill. Another
employee, working nearby, immediately pulled the plug cutting off the power. The injured
employee sustained burns on the neck and both hands.
Assuming the man was
standing on a wood form, and being off the floor or surface level, his body resistance was
considerably lessened The dampness of perspiration, plus placing his arm around the metal
pole, also contributed to the electrical shock
Grounding of portable
electric tools provides the most convenient way of safeguarding the operator. If there is
any defect or short inside the tool, the current is drained from the metal frame through a
ground wire and does not pass through the operator’s body. The most assurable method
of grounding, is through the use of a three prong plug and receptacle more commonly known
as the third wire stem If this system is not possible, then it is recommended that a
ground be installed by fastening one end of a wire of at least No.18 gauge to the metal
frame of the tool, and the other end to a ground by means of a battery clip or permanently
attached clamp.
Insulating platforms,
rubber mats, and rubber gloves are other means to guard against electrical shock.
Tools should be inspected
frequently for the following malfunctions:
1. Defective or broken insulation on
cord.
2. Improper or poorly made connections to
terminals.
3. Broken or otherwise defective plug.
4. Loose or broken switch.
5. Brushes sparking.
NOTE All employees using
11OV. cord and plug connected equipment must use a GFCI device or use equipment and
outlets that are on an Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program.
top
