TOOL SAFETY
ELECTRICAL POWERED TOOLS
· Do not use power equipment or tools on which you have not been trained.
· Keep power cords away from the path of drills, saws, vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, mowers, slicers, knives, grinders, irons and presses.
· Do not carry plugged-in equipment or tools with your finger on the switch.
· Do not carry equipment or tools by the cord.
· Disconnect the tool from the outlet by pulling on the plug, not the cord.
· Turn the tool off before plugging or unplugging it.
· Do not leave tools that are "On" unattended.
· Do not handle or operate electrical tools when your hands are wet or when you are standing on wet floors.
· Do not operate spark-inducing tools such as grinders, drills or saws near containers labeled "Flammable" or in an explosive atmosphere such as a paint spray-booth.
· Turn off electrical tools and disconnect the power source from the outlet before attempting repairs or service work. Tag the tool "Out of Service."
· Do not connect multiple electrical tools into a single outlet.
· Do not run extension cords through doorways, through holes in ceilings, walls or floors.
· Do not drive over, drag, step on or place objects on a cord.
· Do not operate a power hand tool or portable appliance with a two-pronged adapter or a two-conductor extension cord.
· Do not use a power hand tool while wearing wet cotton gloves or wet leather gloves.
· Never operate electrical equipment barefooted. Wear rubber-soled or insulated work boots.
· Do not operate a power hand tool or portable appliance while holding a part of the metal casing or holding the extension cord in your hand. Hold all portable power tools by the plastic handgrips or other nonconductive areas designed for gripping purposes.
· Do not operate a power hand tool or portable appliance that has a frayed, worn, cut, improperly spliced or damaged power cord.
· Ensure all power tools and extension cords are protected with a functional ground fault interrupter (GFI) outlet or GFI protected circuit breaker.
· Do not operate a power hand tool or portable appliance if the ground pin from the three pronged power plug is missing or has been removed.
PNEUMATIC TOOLS
· Do not point a compressed air hose at bystanders or use it to clean your clothing.
· Do not use tools that have handles with burrs or cracks.
· Do not use compressors if their belt guards are missing. Replace belt guards before use.
· Turn the tool "off" and let it come to a complete stop before leaving it unattended.
· Disconnect the tool from the airline before making any adjustments or repairs to the tool.
· Engage positive locks on hoses and attachments before use.
· Shut off pressure valve and disconnect airline when not in use.
· Tag damaged or defective pneumatic tools "Out of Service" to prevent usage of the tool by other employees.
POWDER ACTUATED TOOLS
· Only employer-authorized personnel, with a valid certification card may operate powder-actuated tools.
· Wear safety glasses, goggles or face shields when operating powder actuated tools.
· Wear ears plugs or earmuffs when making fastenings.
· Do not permit bystanders in the area when using a powder actuated tool.
· Do not load tool until ready to make a fastening.
· Keep tool pointed in a safe direction (away from personnel).
· Post a sign alerting co-workers that a powder actuated tool is being used.
· After use, lock powder actuated tools and powder loads in a container and store in a safe place such as a locker or the trunk of a car.
HAND TOOLS
· Use tied-off containers to keep tools from falling off of scaffolds and other elevated work platforms.
· Keep the blades of all cutting tools sharp.
· Carry all sharp tools in sheaths or holsters.
· Tag worn, damaged or defective tools "Out of Service" and do not use them.
· Do not use a tool if its handle has splinters, burrs, cracks, splits or if the head of the tool is loose.
· Do not use impact tools such as hammers, chisels, punches or steel stakes that have mushroomed heads.
· When handing a tool to another person, direct sharp points and cutting edges away from yourself and the other person.
· Do not chop at heights above your head when working with a hand axe.
· Do not carry sharp or pointed hand tools such as screwdrivers, scribes, aviation snips, scrapers, chisels or files in your pocket unless the tool or pocket is sheathed.
· Do not perform "make-shift" repairs to tools.
· Do not use "cheaters" on load binders or "boomers."
· Do not carry tools in your hand when climbing. Carry tools in tool belts or hoist the tools to the work area with a hand line.
· Do not throw tools from one location to another, from one employee to another, from scaffolds or other elevated platforms.
GRINDING WHEELS
· Never operate a wheel that is loose on its spindle, out of balance, or nicked or cracked.
· Keep the tool rest within 1/8 of an inch of the wheel.
· The upper wheel guard must be kept within ¼ inch of the wheel.
· Wear safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield on all grinding operations.
· Report immediately any grinding wheel that seems to be unsafe.
· Do not grind on the side of the wheel at any time. This can cause the wheel to explode.
· Only replace wheels with ones of the proper size and speed rating of the grinder.
These sample safety rules are being provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to take in account any specific needs of your business. Pinnacol Assurance and all other participating organizations make no representations or warranties as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. Persons using this information must make their own determination as to its suitability for their purposes in support of their own safety programs. Pinnacol Assurance and all other participating organizations are in no way responsible for damages of any nature resulting from the use of this information.
For customer service, call Pinnacol Assurance at 800.873.7242 or visit www.pinnacol.com.