Power Tool Safety

1. Power Tool Safety

2. Introduction • Power tools can be useful, yet dangerous when used incorrectly, stored improperly, or not maintained in good condition.. • Your hand tools are an important part of your job, and should be treated, cared-for, and used in a professional manner. • This presentation will help to provide you ways in which you can help to use power tools in the proper way, so they will be there for you when you need them.

3. Agenda • General Power Tool Rules • Precautions • Storage • Experience • Prepare Yourself • Prepare The Workplace • Know & Prepare The Tool • Use the Right Tool • Summary

4. Overview • Almost all of us use power tools--at work and at home. When used incorrectly or not taken care of properly, hand tools can do enough damage…power tools can be even more damaging. One of the most frequent causes of power tool injuries is caused from failing to wear personal protective equipment, or failing to follow approved safety guidelines.

5. General Power Tool Rules • Most accidents with power tools are the result of one of the following three things: • Failing to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). • Failing to follow approved safety guidelines. • Using the wrong tool for the job.

6. Power Tool Rules Before using a power tool, take a minute to inspect it. Inspecting the tool can reveal problems which could make the tool unsafe. Inspect not only the tool, but yourself as well. Make sure you are wearing the proper attire to perform the job without risking an injury. Before plugging in the power tool: • Make sure nuts and bolts are properly tightened. • Use a ground fault circuit interrupter. • Remove any rings or other jewelry. • Don't wear loose-fitting clothing. • Use PPE, such as face shields or safety goggles. • Use the tool only for the task for which it is designed.

7. Power Tool Rules Electricity Creates Hazards • As with anything else that involves electricity, power tools should be monitored for loose or fraying cords. The wrong cord, one that is not double-insulated or does not have three prongs, spells trouble. Make sure you don't use power tools in wet areas. Never place your finger on the activating trigger when transporting a power tool. This could cause it to start unexpectedly and result in an accident.

8. Power Tool Rules Other Precautions • Power tools are designed for specific jobs. NEVER try to modify a fool to perform a job which it was never engineered to do. Power tools have guards installed to protect you from injury. Never remove a guard from a power tool and make sure all guards are functioning in proper working order.

9. Power Tool Rules Other Precautions • Before using a power tool, take a look around you. Make sure your work area is free of clutter or dampness. Avoid loose-fitting clothing which can become entangled in the device and cause an injury. Remember, power tools can become hot after use. Avoid touching the motor casing to prevent burns

10. Power Tool Rules Proper Storage Is Important, Too • When you are finished using a power tool, disconnect it immediately from its power source. To properly store a power tool, don't wrap the electrical cord around it. This can cause the cord to break, creating an electrical hazard. Store the tool in a dry, cool place.

11. Power Tool Rules Experience Is Not Best Teacher We learn from our mistakes, often being sadder, but wiser. Newfound wisdom, however, is little solace to a person severely injured or maimed for life because he failed to observe proper safety procedures. Experience alone is not the best teacher.

12. Power Tool Rules Experience Is Not Best Teacher "Just give me the short form, and I'll learn the rest as I go along" is, unfortunately, an attitude assumed by some workers when presented with an unfamiliar power tool. Trial-and-error is no way to learn how to operate a power tool! "Anything in particular I should know about using this?" is a postmature and improper question asked when applied to a power tool with which the user is unfamiliar.

13. Power Tool Rules Experience Is Not Best Teacher The novice should begin by thoroughly reading the instruction manual provided with the tool. If there is anything not understood, the worker should request clarification from a qualified, experienced party. Only after the manufacturer's instructions are thoroughly understood should the novitiate ask, "Now...Is there anything else you can think of that I should know?"

14. Power Tool Rules Prepare Yourself Never operate a power tool when under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, medication that might affect mental acuity or reaction time, or when fatigued. If you know you might be called upon to use a power tool the following day, forgo excessive "I had a hard night" style partying.

15. Power Tool Rules Prepare Yourself Determine the personal protective equipment recommended or mandated when using the tool -- and wear it. Such equipment includes face shields, eye protection, respirators, hearing protection, and hand and foot protection. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry that might be drawn into the tool, and properly secure long hair tresses.

16. Power Tool Rules Prepare the Workplace Begin by clearing obstructions that can impede safe work procedures, and provide adequate lighting. Post appropriate barriers and warning signs if the work being done might pose a danger to others, or if the intrusion of others might pose a danger to yourself.

17. Power Tool Rules Prepare the Workplace If the work area contains noxious fumes or a potentially ignitable atmosphere, purge and provide adequate ventilation. Provide scaffolding, portable manlift, or appropriate ladder positioned so that a firm stance can be maintained without overreach and a firm grip can be maintained on the tool. Overreach is a major cause of accidents when using portable power tools.

18. Power Tool Rules Know and Prepare the Tool A thorough understanding of the particular tool and any special safety precautions pertaining to its use is a paramount consideration in power tool safety. There are also general safety considerations that must be observed when preparing any power tool for use. A check of the tool should be made to ensure that it is in good condition, with all safety guards in place and in proper working order. A check should be made for power supply integrity. The power supply cord or hose should be inspected, and repair or replacement undertaken if any defects are uncovered. Check to ensure that accessories are properly rated for use with the tool. For example, a wire brush, grinding wheel, or abrasive cutoff wheel rated for 3000 rpm must not be used in a tool delivering 5000 rpm. Grinding and cutoff wheels should be inspected carefully for cracks. Do not overtighten when installing the wheel, and use only the driving flanges and stress-relief blotters provided by the manufacturer. Before placing the tool in service, it is also advisable to operate it at top speed for 1 min in a protected enclosure to verify wheel integrity.

19. Power Tool Rules Know and Prepare the Tool Check to ensure that accessories such as saw blades and drill bits are sharp and in good condition. A dull saw blade, for example, invites hangup and injury from kickback. Dull tools also bring on operator fatigue and accompanying loss of alertness. Sockets designed for hand tools should not be used with impact wrenches, because they can shatter when exposed to the force exerted by a power tool. Make certain that the tool is disconnected from the power supply cord or hose before attaching any accessories or making adjustments, and make sure that adjustment keys or wrenches are removed before returning the tool to service. Make sure that the press-to-operate trigger mechanism restores freely to the "off" position. If the tool has a lock-on operating mechanism, make sure that it releases freely.

20. Power Tool Rules Use the Right Tool Right Way The expression "Having the right tool is half the job" tells only half the story. You must also use the right tool the right wayor you might wind up in no condition to finish the job. Make sure that the tool is properly sized for the job, and is the right tool for the job. A circular saw is no substitute for a chain saw! There are several general safety rules to apply when using power tools. Disconnect the tool from its power source if it will be unused and remain unattended over a lengthy period of time, and disconnect the power supply before undertaking any adjustments or accessory change. Never lift or drag a tool by its power supply cord or hose. Always make certain that the workpiece is properly supported or clamped. If the tool is equipped with side handles, use them when possible. This approach is especially important with tools such as orbital sanders, which can kick back if they snag. Observe extra caution and anticipate possible problems if space constraints dictate the removal of side handles.

21. Power Tool Rules Use the Right Tool Right Way Turn the tool off immediately if abnormal noise or vibration is experienced. Do not side-load abrasive cutoff wheels; grind on the periphery only to prevent cracking and shattering. When using grinders, cutoff wheels, and sanders, make sure that the spark stream is directed away from persons and combustibles. Electric heat guns can develop 1000 F at the nozzle. This temperature is well above the ignition point of many materials. A fully-charged fire extinguisher should be nearby whenever a heat gun is used. For reasons of toxicity, a heat gun should never be used to strip lead-based paint. When using an electric drill, make certain that you will not be drilling into piping or electric wiring. As you approach hole breakthrough, grip the tool firmly and reduce pressure to prevent the bit from seizing, with a possible result of the tool rotating about the bit. Do not attempt to free a jammed bit by starting and stopping the drill motor. Unplug the tool and free the bit.

22. Power Tool Rules Use the Right Tool Right Way Circular saws can be particularly dangerous when used improperly -- especially so, because they are subject to kickback in the direction of the user when the blade binds. Any change in the normal high-pitched whine of the circular saw blade should be interpreted to signify binding and potential kickback. To prevent circular saw blade binding, the workpiece should, when the nature of the cut so dictates, be supported on both sides of the cut. The possibility of blade pinching is reduced by setting the depth of cut to not more than ¼-in. greater than the thickness of the stock. The less blade exposed to the stock, the less chance of binding and kickback. Extra caution should be observed when cutting wet, knotty, or warped stock; such materials invite pinching and resultant kickback. The blade guard should be checked occasionally to ensure that it is not bound up by cutting debris, preventing it from operating freely. This check should be undertaken especially often when cutting wet stock.

23. Summary • Power Tool Rules • Use your tool only for the specific task it was designed to do. • Read the owner's manual before using your tool. • Never use any tool--power or manual--unless you are trained to do so. • Inspect before each use and replace or repair if parts are worn or damaged. • Inspect screws, nuts, bolts and moveable parts to make sure they are tightened. • Before plugging or unplugging tools, be sure power switch is turned to "OFF."

24. Summary • Power Tool Rules • Never disconnect power by pulling on the cord--remove the plug from the outlet. • Never clean or repair a tool unless power is disconnected. (Repair tools only if you are trained to do so.) • When working on ladders or scaffolding, rest power tools on a flat surface or in a bin secured to the ladder itself. ( A falling tool can seriously injure a coworker or bystander.) • Use a ground fault circuit interrupter when working with power tools. • Do not wear rings, jewelry, or loose clothing when operating power tools. • Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as face shields, safety goggles, disposable masks, etc. as required.