Hand Tools

We work with hand tools practically every day. Familiarity can lead to complacency. Faulty tools or tools used incorrectly can cause nasty injuries and produce poor quality work.

Importance.

Sharp tools, which cut steel, can cut skin easily. Hammers, which can drive nails, can squash fingers in one hit.

Regulations.

Work Equipment Regulations require employers to ensure that tools are suitable and maintained in good order. They rely on employees to assist them in this by reporting immediately if something is not suitable or is broken.

Guidance.

• Spanners: Must be the right size or they are automatically not suitable. Ring spanners are better than open ended spanners. Although adjustable spanners are convenient, they quickly become dangerous due to wear on the jaws and adjusting mechanism.
• Stillsons: Suffer in time from wear on the mechanism. The spring will take up a certain amount of wear, but if the spring is exhausted, or the gripper teeth on the jaws are worn out, report the tool as unsuitable. NEVER attempt to gain extra leverage by using pipe over the handle. If the temptation arises obviously the tool is too small and therefore unsuitable.
• Files: The handle is part of the tool. Without a handle the tool is unsuitable, and dangerous. Files are very brittle and must not be used as levers or chisels.
• Cold Chisels and Punches: When the head turns over after prolonged use grind it off to prevent flying fragments. Keeping chisels sharp reduces the tendency for mushrooming.
• Hammers: Use the right weight hammer for the job. Ensure hammer heads are secure, with proper wedges (good order). Never shorten a hammer shaft as this spoils the balance.
• Screwdrivers: These should fit the slot in the screw head, use the correct size. The point should be cross ground to minimise the risk of slipping. Do not use them as chisels. Cross point (Phillips) screwdrivers cannot generally be re-sharpened, so discard when wear makes them unsuitable.
• Knives: Retractable knives are good tools, but do not abuse them over a preferable alternative e.g. cable stripping use a purpose made cable stripper.
• Hacksaws: Use the correct size with the correct blade for the job. High Speed blades last longer, but are very brittle. Slow steady cutting keeps the blade cool and gives better results.
• Tool Box: All hand tools should be put away when not in use. Good Housekeeping prevents damage and loss and keeps them sharp and available when needed.

Questions.

1. Which types of spanners are safest to use?
2. What prevents mushrooming of chisel heads?

Summary.

All tools must be suitable for the job in hand and in good order. Properly used by skilled hands, they will produce good quality work and not cause of accidents.