PROCEDURE: RISK RANKING: TOOLS CARE AND HANDLING MODERATE HAZARD ASSESSMENT: HAZARD POTENTIAL EFFECT CONTROL 1. Improper use of tools 1. Worker could suffer 1. Use proper PPE and or using faulty tools. personal injury if not and follow procedure using tools properly. On use of tools. SAFETY EQUIPMENT: Safety Glasses with side shields, goggles, face shield, mesh face shield, faller s pants, hard hat, steel toe boots, FR Clothing, gloves, hearing protection and personal gas monitor. SAFETY NOTE: A Hot Work Permit must be obtained before using tools, which could create a source of ignition in a hazardous area. PROCEDURE: 1. Know the proper way to use different types of hand tools. Use the right tool for each job. Your supervisor will assist and assure that you have adequate training for you to perform your duties. 2. Keep hand tools in good condition and do not misuse them. Proper maintenance is imperative to safety. Tools in defective condition should be taken out of service and tagged for repair or replacement. 3. Whenever possible pull on a hand tool rather than pushing on it. Slipping can cause injury if you are pushing. 4. Use a proper pair of goggles when using a hand tool that may cause sparks or particles to fly. 5. When using tools in any overhead place, use extreme care and caution, as there is a risk of tools falling, causing injury to those below. 6. Never carry tools in your pocket or stuck in your belt. 7. All hand tools held by one worker and struck by another worker should be held by a specific holding device. A glancing blow or miss may seriously injure the other. Wear eye protection and or face shield. - 1 - Date of Preparation: September 1, 2004
8. Never leave power tools in any work area. Keep electrical cords or lines away from oil, hot surfaces, chemicals and sharp edges that could cut the cord. 9. Hammers: Use hammers that are in good condition only. Check for cracked or broken handles prior to use. Always grip a hammer close to the handles end. A choking grip does not allow the hammer to perform at its greatest efficiency and may increase the chance of injury. Wear safety goggles whenever using a hammer on metal. Bits of metal may fly into the eye from the object being struck. Always concentrate on the object you are striking. Distraction may cause a missed blow causing injury. Always hold the object that you are about to hit near the head for maximum support and start your drive with a light blow. Never use a hammer handle for any other purpose than holding the hammer. Never strike hardened objects such as a wrench or another hammer with anything except a soft metal hammer. Doing so may cause the metal to break or shatter, giving off projectiles. Be sure to have a clear swing field when using a hammer of any sort. Overhead obstructions may cause the trajectory of your swing to alter causing a missed blow. When using a sledge hammer, have your helper use a holding device so that hands, head and arms will not be in range of the swing. Use the right kind of hammer for the job at hand. Never makeshift a tool to be used as a hammer. Never hammer a fitting under pressure. Use only a brass hammer or a shot-blow hammer when working around hydrocarbons. A shot-blow hammer has a Neoprene head that is filled with lead shot. 10. Pliers: Piers are made in several different types. Each type made is specific to the job being performed. The most common types of pliers are the combination slip joint pliers. The slip joint permits the jaws to be opened wider for gripping larger diameter objects. Some types have front or side cutting devices for wire cutting. Use pliers for gripping and cutting only. Never use pliers for tightening and loosening nuts since they will ruin the corners of the nuts, and the flexible jaws can slip, causing injury. The inside cutting jaws should point away from the user s face since flying bits of wire or metal may cause eye injury. Always wear goggles when cutting wire. Pliers should be the right size for the job at hand. To prevent an overload select pliers that will cut using only one hand. Pliers that are too small for the job being performed may cause slippage resulting in injury. - 2 - Date of Preparation: September 1, 2004
11.Wrenches: Use to proper type wrench for the job at hand. Any adaptation of a wrench to a specific job can lead to injury. Before using a snipe (extension) make sure you are using the largest pipe wrench available. Direct the force to the fixed jaw rather than the moveable jaw. It is much easier to pull on a wrench than to push. Using the wrench parallel to the job at hand. Not doing so may result in jaws slipping and injury occurring. Never use a wrench for anything other than what it was attended for. Position yourself properly when using a wrench. Brace your self against a backward fall by placing one foot behind the other. Don t place your hand or body in a position where you may be injured if the tool slips. Check and inspect all wrenches after every use to ensure that the jaws are sharp and clean, the handles not bent or broken and the adjustments move freely. 12. Screwdrivers: A screwdriver must be in good condition to be used safely. The handle should be clean and undamaged to promote a good grip and it should fit tight to the shank to avoid play unless a ratchet type is used. The handle should be shaped so that the user can get a tight grip. The shank of the screwdriver should be straight and free of damage. Always use the largest sized screwdriver of the proper length that will fit tightly into the screw head. Using a driver that is too small a head for the screw may cause the driver to slip out and result in injury. Never use a screwdriver with a worn, chipped or broken tip. Should a tip become worn or broken, replace immediately or file the tip square as in the case of a flathead screwdriver. Never use any other tool other than a screwdriver as a screwdriver. Using chisels or knives only invites injury, as they are not designed for this purpose. Never hammer on a screwdriver. Handles on most screwdrivers are made out of plastic and may chip or break, causing injury. Never hold anything else in your hand when using a screwdriver. The chances of a driver slipping and puncturing your hand are high. When using a screwdriver for electrical work, use one with an insulated handle. Current may travel from source, through the handle to you. Inspect your screwdriver after every use and repair or replace when necessary. 13. Chisels: Chisels are available in many different shapes and sizes; choose the right chisel for the job being performed, improper use can result in major injuries to eyes and hands. - 3 - Date of Preparation: September 1, 2004
Use a chisel big enough for the job. Since chisels are used with hammers, make sure the hammer is big enough for the chisel and is the right type. Should the hammer be too small, it may miss the head of the chisel and cause a hand injury. Use a mallet instead of a hammer when possible. The larger head lessens the possibility of a miss. Always use a chisel with the knuckles down between the thumb and forefinger. This way the knuckles will not be exposed to a blow from the hammer. Always hold a chisel near the upper end. This gives you greater support and lessens hand exposure. Use a chisel with the cutting edge of the same width, or wider than the area to be cut. This will minimize the number of blows necessary to do the job. When using a chisel in cold weather make sure your hands are warm. Cold hands reduce ability to hold the chisel as muscles tend to cramp when cold. Always strike the chisel in a direction away from you. Use no more force than necessary to do the job. Striking a chisel towards you is inviting injury, should the chisel slip or the blow miss. Always wear eye protection when using a chisel or chipping. Set up a shield or guard to protect others from flying objects or have them wear eye protection as well. 14. Files: Ensure the file has a tight fitting head at all times. A file with no head can cause injury should you run into resistance on the forward stroke. Always use a vise for file work because it will secure the work and make filing easier. Relieve all pressure on the backstroke when using any file. Raise the file off the work before drawing it back. Files cut in forward strokes only. Holding the file on the work on a backstroke only dulls the file. Select a file that is the right size and type for the job to be performed. Use the file only for the purpose it was intended. Never use a file for prying, as the tang will easily bend. Hammering on a file may make it shatter, causing danger of injury from flying bits of metal. Always check and maintain all files after each use. Check handle regularly for tightness and to ensure the tang is not bent or broken. Replace handle or complete file if damaged. 15. Punches: A start punch is used to start driving out straight pins or tapered pins to the point where a pin punch is to be used. A pin punch is used to continue the drive of a straight or tapered punch. A centre punch is used to assemble two parts in original position. Always use the largest size of starting or pin punch that will fit the hole because there is less chance of the shank breaking. - 4 - Date of Preparation: September 1, 2004
Never use a pin punch to start a pin. Always use a start punch. Always take special care of all punches, especially to the centre punch. Inspect the shanks to ensure they are not bent. The centre punch is extremely hard to grind by hand to a 60 degree angle. Never use it on hard metal that will dull the point. Use eye protection. Use brass punches when working in a hazardous area to prevent possible sparking. 16. Air tools: Never disconnect an air line from an air tool and use it to clean machines or blow dust from clothing. The line may slip and whip about, causing injury or damage. Air may also cause dirt particles to be blown into the workers eye. Always wear goggles when working with air tools. Air wrenches and impact tools may produce high torque, causing bolts to break and threads to strip. Ensure the tool and air lines are properly maintained. If the hose is kinked or worn, a wrapping of metal wire can protect it. Use hearing protection. 17. Electrical Tools: Ensure all portable electric tools are grounded if not double insulated. A short circuit inside the tool will be drained through the ground instead of through the user. Never stand in water when using any electrical tool, even if the tool is double insulated. Never pull on the cord when disconnecting from the source. Always pull on the plug. When you pull on the cord, you become the ground. Use heavy duty plugs on all electrical tools. This will prevent a strain on the electrical conductors. Always choose bits carefully on an electric drill. High grade bits are best because they break less easily with proper use. Never jam or crowd an electric saw into the work. Guard grinding wheels, buffers and brushes as completely as possible. Tool rests on grinding gear should be no more than I!8 inch from the wheel. Wear goggles, face shields or safety glasses when operating this equipment. Never use an electric tool in a gaseous atmosphere. Sparks may cause an explosion. Keep blades sharp and teeth set properly on power saws. Sharp teeth properly set, will help prevent binding. Check to ensure the guards are in place and are working properly on power saws. Do not compromise the safeguards. Always inspect and maintain electric tools after each and every use. Inspect bits and blades for wear and tear, cords for wear, plugs for damage, grinding wheels for tightness and the tool itself for wear. Consider need for hearing protection. - 5 - Date of Preparation: September 1, 2004
18. Chain Saws: Check condition of cutting chain and teeth. All chain links should be free. Teeth should be sharp and set properly. Check tension of cutting chain. Chain tension should be adjusted so there is 1/4 to 3/8 inch sag in the chain. Check lubricator operation. Before each use, fill lubricator oil reservoir and check lubricator operation. Check clutch operation. After starting engine, check to ensure that the chain does not move when the engine is at idle. Use proper protective clothing. Wear safety glasses and appropriate leg guards at all times when operating a chain saw. Never set a chain saw or leave it unattended while running. Use hearing protection. - 6 - Date of Preparation: September 1, 2004