Sometimes this means the handle will be straight, but other times this might mean the handle is at an angle. For example , if you want to apply force in the same direction as your straight forearm, a bent handle would work better than a straight one.
Also consider whether you will need to use the tool in a small space. If you were using a screwdriver to work inside of a machine, for example, a long handle could get in the way and require you to bend your arm at an angle that is not ergonomic. At first glance, it might seem like a heavy tool could get the job done faster, but oftentimes a heavy tool will cause worker fatigue sooner and can place extra strain on muscles. Tool handles are made from a variety of materials including metal, wood and fiberglass.
Each material has benefits, but as a user you should think about how the material could impact your safety. When using a heavier tool like a hammer, the handle will vibrate each time you strike something. Over time, this can cause nerve damage in the hands and wrist.
Wood and fiberglass tend to vibrate less than metal, so those materials will likely keep your hands safer when using striking tools. Additionally, some materials provide a better grip than others, which prevents a tool from slipping out of your hand. Some handles also have anti-slip materials added to them, so look for those features when dealing with tools like hammers or mallets.
Choose Hand Safety suggests tools can be adjusted to make them more ergonomic. Tool sleeves can be added when handles are too small. Some tasks also require PPE like gloves, and in those cases users should always select tools based on the size their gloved hands. For more information about selecting hand tools and the ergonomics of hand safety, visit ChooseHandSafety.
Need somewhere to store your new tools? Use non-magnetic tools when working near strong magnets e. Use a screw-holding screwdriver with screw-holding clips or magnetic blades to get screws started in awkward, hard-to-reach areas. Square-tipped screwdrivers e.
Use an offset screwdriver in close quarters where a conventional screwdriver cannot be used. Offset Screwdriver: Use a screwdriver that incorporates the following features when continuous work is needed: A pistol grip to provide for a straighter wrist and better leverage. A ratchet device to drive hard-to-move screws efficiently. Or use a powered screwdriver. Yankee Drill Mechanism with a Pistol Grip File a rounded tip square making sure the edges are straight.
A dull or rounded tip can slip out of the slot and cause hand injury or damage to materials. Store screwdrivers in a rack or partitioned pouch so that the proper screwdriver can be selected quickly. A screw properly piloted and fitted will draw itself into the right position when turned. Keep the shank directly over the screw being driven.
Do not hold the stock in one hand while using the screwdriver with the other. If the screwdriver slips out of the slot, you may cut your hand. Do not hammer screws which cannot be turned. Do not grind the tip to fit all sizes of screw heads. Do not try to use screwdrivers on screw heads for which they are not designed e. Do not use defective screwdrivers i. Do not use a screwdriver for prying, punching, chiseling, scoring, scraping or stirring paint. Do not use pliers on the handle of a screwdriver for extra turning power.
A wrench should only be used on the square screwdriver shank designed for that purpose. Do not expose a screwdriver blade to excessive heat. Heat can affect the temper of the metal and weaken the tool. Do not use a screwdriver to check if an electrical circuit is live. Use a suitable meter or other circuit testing device. Do not carry screwdrivers in your pockets. Snips: Snips are made in various shapes and sizes for various tasks.
Universal snips can cut in both straight and wide curves. Aviation snips have compound leverage that reduces the effort required for cutting.
Offset snips have jaws that are set at an angle from the handle. Only use snips that are sharp and in good condition. Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield with safety glases or goggles and protective gloves when working with snips.
Small pieces of metal may go flying in the air and the cut edges of metal are sharp. Left cut snips are for making cuts to the left and straight cuts. Use snips for cutting soft metal only. Hard or hardened metal should be cut with cutting tools designed for that purpose. Use ordinary hand pressure for cutting. If extra force is needed, use a larger tool. Cut so that the waste is on the right if you are right-handed or on the left if you are left-handed.
Avoid springing the blades. This results from trying to cut metal that is too thick or heavy for the snips you are using. Keep the nut and the pivot bolt properly adjusted at all times. Oil the pivot bolt on the snips occasionally. Use the locking clip if available to keep the snips closed when not in use. Do not hammer or use your foot to exert extra pressure on the cutting edges. Do not use cushion grip handles for tasks requiring insulated handles.
They are for comfort primarily and not for protection against electric shocks. Do not attempt to resharpen snips in a sharpening device designed for scissors, garden tools or cutlery.
Struck Tools: Safety tips to know when using a struck tool: Struck tools are made in various shapes and sizes and for many uses and include cold chisels, punches, nail sets, rock and star drills, and wedges. DO Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield with safety glasses or goggles.
Use the tools only if they are good condition i. Hold the chisel, for shearing and chipping, at an angle which permits the bevel of the cutting edge to lie flat against the shearing plane. Provide hand protection Hand protection can be provided by a sponge rubber shield forced onto the shaft of a chisel or select struck tools that come with hand protectors designed for the tool. Punch and chisel holders are also available. Discard tools which are bent, cracked or chipped.
Redress striking tools with burred or mushroomed heads. Do not use struck tools if the cutting edge is dull or chipped or if the point of a punch is slanted or damaged. Do not apply too much pressure to the head when grinding a chisel. The heat generated can remove the temper. Immerse the chisel in cold water periodically when grinding. Do not use cold chisels for cutting or splitting stone or concrete. Do not use a drift pin punch also called an aligning punch as a pin punch intended for driving, removing, or loosening pins, keys, and rivets.
Do not allow bull point chisels to be hand-held by one employee and struck by another. Vises: A vise, sometimes called the third hand, is an indispensable tool in the tool room or workshop. Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield with safety glasses or goggles when using striking tools or power tools on a workpiece held by a vise. Attach a vise securely. Place bolts in all the holes in the base of the vise.
Use lock washers under the nuts. Mount a vise so that the stationary jaw projects slightly beyond the edge of the workbench. This allows long work to be clamped in the vise without interference from the edge of the workbench.
Ensure that the workbench is firmly secured to its base. Check the vise for cracks or other damage before clamping a workpiece in it. Use a vise large enough to hold the work without strain. Place the workpiece in the vise so that the full clamping surface of the jaw supports the workpiece.
Keep the workpiece in the vise close as possible to the jaws to prevent vibration when sawing, filing, etc. Support the end of extra long work with an adjustable stand, saw horse, or box rather than putting extra strain on the vise. Keep all threaded and moving parts clean, oiled and free of chips and dirt. Use jaw liners in a vise where there is any possibility of marking the work. Replace a bent handle and worn jaw inserts.
Do not repair a vise by welding or brazing. Do not try to bend a heavy rod in a light vise. Do not cut into the jaws. Do not apply heavy pressure at the corner of the vise jaws.
Do not use a handle extension e. Do not hammer on the handle to tighten beyond hand pressure. Do not use the jaws of the vise as an anvil. Do not use any vise that has the slightest crack. Do not unscrew or open the jaws of the vise wider than they were designed to be used. Wood Chisels: Wood chisels are made in various shapes and sizes and for many uses. Wear safety glasses, or goggles, or a face shield with safety glasses or goggles.
Use the right size of chisel for the job. Choose smooth, rectangular handles that have no sharp edges and are attached firmly to the chisel. Ensure that the cutting edge is sharp. Dull chisels can be difficult to control and require more effort to do the job. Check stock thoroughly for knots, staples, nails, screws or other foreign objects before chiseling.
Clamp stock so it cannot move. Adjust your stance so that you do not lose your balance if the tool slips. Chip or cut away from yourself. Keep your hands and body behind the cutting edge.
Use a wooden or plastic mallet with a large striking face on all chisels. Only heavy-duty or framing chisels are made of a solid or molded handle that can be struck with a steel hammer.
Make finishing or paring cuts with hand pressure alone. Place chisels safely within the plastic protective caps to cover cutting edges when not in use. Replace any chisel that is bent or shows dents, cracks, chips, or excessive wear.
Replace broken or splintered handles. Sharpen cutting edges as often as necessary. Do not use a wood chisel on metal. Do not use an all-steel chisel with a mushroomed face or a chipped edge. Redress with a file or whetstone. Do not use a grinder to redress heat-treated tools. Use a whetstone. Do not use a dull chisel. Wrenches: Wrenches are made in various shapes and sizes and are used for gripping, fastening, turning, tightening and loosening things like pipes, pipe fittings, nuts and bolts.
There basically two major kinds of wrenches: Pipe wrenches used in plumbing for gripping round cylindrical things. General use wrenches used on nuts and bolts that have flat, parallel surfaces; e. Wrenches may be adjustable to fit different sized pipes, nuts and bolts or may be a fixed size. Adjustable wrenches include: Pipe wrenches.
Crescent TM wrenches which have adjustable jaws set at a 30 degree angle from the handle. Although Crescent is a trade name, it is widely used to refer to any regular adjustable wrench with an angled jaw regardless of who manufactured it. Monkey wrenches which have their adjustable head at a 90 degree angle from the handle. Closed end or box wrenches that have a loop at the end with notches on the inside that allow the wrench to fit either square or hex nuts or both depending on the number of notches or points.
Combination wrenches that have both an open end and a closed end on either end of the wrench; usually they fit the same size nut or bolt. Socket wrenches are like closed end wrenches except they are cylindrical in shape.
They can fit over a nut in a recessed hole that would be inaccessible with open or closed ended wrenches. These have an offset handle at right angles to the nut being tightened or loosened. Usually the handle is a ratchet-type handle that allows the user to turn the socket continuously in one direction by moving the handle back and forth without having to take the socket off the nut.
Torque wrenches, one type of socket wrenches, have a built-in spring-loaded indicator that shows how much torque being is being applied i. Nut drivers, another type of socket wrenches, are sockets that can be snapped on or permanently fixed to a screwdriver-type handle. Allen wrenches or Allen keys are hexagon-shaped six-sided metal shafts that are bent into an L-shape for leverage.
These are different from the other wrenches since they fit inside a recessed hexagonal hole in screw heads instead of around a nut or bolt. General safety tips when using wrenches: Use the correct wrench for the job — pipe wrenches for pipes plumbing fittings, and general use wrenches for nuts and bolts.
Discard any damaged wrenches e. Select the correct jaw size to avoid slippage. Wear safety glasses or a face shield with safety glasses or goggles where there is a likely hazard of flying particles or falling debris. Position your body in a way that will prevent you from losing balance and hurting yourself if the wrench slips or something e. Use a box or socket wrench with a straight handle, rather than an off-set handle, when possible.
When turning with an adjustable wrench, the direction of the turn should be against towards the permanent jaw. Ensure that the teeth of a pipe wrench are sharp and free of oil and debris and that the pipe or fitting is clean to prevent unexpected slippage and possible injuries. Apply a small amount of pressure to a ratchet wrench initially to ensure that the ratchet wheel or gear is engaged with the pawl a catch fitting in the gear for direction you are applying pressure.
Support the head of the ratchet wrench when socket extensions are used. Pull on a wrench using a slow, steady pull; do not use fast, jerky movements. Stand aside when work is done with wrenches overhead. Keep tools well maintained cleaned and oiled. Clean and place tools and wrenches in a tool box, rack or tool belt after use. Do not use a wrench that is bent handle or damaged. Presents recommendations for changing equipment, workstation design, or work methods with the goal of reducing work-related MSDs.
National Safety Council. Includes considerations for machine operation, installation and maintenance. Presents an easy- to- use guideline for selecting or purchasing the best available ergonomically designed non-powered hand tools. Describes the basic elements of a workplace ergonomics program aimed at preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Includes a "toolbox," which is a collection of techniques, methods, reference materials and sources for other information that can help in program development. Assists employers and employees in recognizing and controlling potential ergonomic hazards. National Telecommunications Safety Panel, November Provides information pertaining to the science of ergonomics and its impact on the telecommunications industry.
It is organized into 4 main sections by work type within the telecommunications industry; outside plant environment, central office environment, office environment and retail environment.
Control Back-pain Risks from Whole-body Vibration. For operators of off-road mobile machinery, agricultural vehicles or industrial trucks to help manage the risk of back pain. Hand-arm Vibration at Work. Advice for employers on regular and frequent use of hand-held power tools, hand-guided powered equipment, and powered machines which process hand-held materials.
Describes how to make or order inexpensive new tools or to modify existing ones to reduce the risk of backaches and pains in the arms, shoulders and hands of farm workers. Also available in Spanish PDF. Provides a summary of a national conference that was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, May , The agricultural safety and health experts who attended the meeting discussed research needs regarding prevention of MSDs for children and adolescents working in agriculture.
Focuses on common ergonomic problems and solutions identified in clothing manufacturing plants to prevent injuries. Describes many of the common ergonomic hazards associated with the baggage handling process as well as providing possible solutions that are ranked according to their feasibility to the operations.
Ergonomic Solutions: Baggage Handling Spanish. Beverage Delivery Beverage Delivery eTool. Describes ergonomic hazards and possible solutions for workers in the beverage delivery Industry.
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