Search
View Cart     Home
















































POWER TOOL SAFETY
 
A.  Introduction
Power Tools are a common part of many of our everyday lives and are present in nearly every industry. These tools help us to easily perform tasks that otherwise would be difficult or impossible. (Can anyone remember using a brace and bit?) I personally don’t want to imagine life without them. However, our beloved power tools can be hazardous and have the potential for causing severe injuries when used or maintained improperly.
 
We all slip-up occasionally, but our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) was there to protect us. Hopefully you weren’t injured. (And nobody was looking to give you crap)   
 
I would like to introduce you to the EMERGENCY ROOM CANDIDATE, who for the rest of our time here, will be known as the E-candidate. The type of person (read Bonehead) who, if there is possibly an unsafe way to do something they will find it.  You may have one of your own, you may be one yourself, or the one time you slip-up, you become one!
B. Circular Saw Safety 
 
The Safe Operation of Portable Circular SAW is a simple matter. By following some simple, basic rules, even the E-Candidate can operate these power tools without incident.
 
1. Wear eye protection. (DUH)
2. Replace dull or damaged saw blades. (Dull blades cause you and the saw to work harder and overheat,) (and your boss if you burn up his saw)
3. Wait for the blade to stop before lifting from the cut. (The blade can snag and pull from your grip)
4. Use the correct blade for the cut you are making. (No you cant get by with one blade)
5. Disconnect power before cleaning the saw, changing blades, or making adjustments. (The least that can happen is you get hurt when your buddy gets hit in the head with the blade wrench)
6. Place materials on a firm surface for cutting (This does not include hands, arms, across the knees or feet. (Yes E-candidates have cut into themselves).
7. Cut the materials beyond the end of a support so that the waste falls clear. (Have you ever seen someone cut material between two sawhorses, and watched the pieces, E-candidate, or saw go flying?)
8. Adjust the blade depth to limit the amount of blade exposed below the material being cut to 1/2" or less. This helps reduce the chance of kickbacks. (Except to your contractor)
9. Keep your finger off the trigger while not actually making the cut. (unless your looking to get “cut”)
10. Maintain positive cord awareness. (It’s a real “blast” when the E-Candidate cuts his Power cord)
C.  Drill Safety
 
The Safe operation of Power Drills seems like a no brainer, at least until you get “brained” by a drill handle.
 
1. Wear eye protection. (Yes Drills to)
2. Avoid using corded drills if you have to stand in water or mud. (I mean come-on, Why do you think we have cordless tools, but the E-Candidate will do it)
3. Use double-insulated or properly grounded drills.
4. Select the correct bit for the job. Use only good bits. Do not use a dull bit. It can cause you to over-force the drill into hard material and the bit could break. (Did I mention Eye protection)
5. If the drills speed can be varied, operate the drill at the correct speed for the material you are working.
6. Do not lock the switch of a hand-held drill in the on position. (This goes back to getting “brained”. I saw an E-candidate using a high torque drill when it snagged in the material. The trigger was locked. He got SMACKED three times before the drill wound the cord and unplugged it! I WASN’T GETTING NEAR THAT THING!)
D.  Grinder Safety:
 
1. Bench: Now these can be some really scary beasts. I have been using Bench Grinders for over 25 years, and have seen some pretty messed up things.
 
a. Wear eye protection (I recommend a full face shield) and gloves.
b. Do not wear loose hanging clothing.
c. If the material being worked produces a lot of dust or other particles, wear a dust mask.
d. NEVER use a badly worn, cracked or out-of-round wheel. (You haven’t lived until you have had a wheel EXPLODE in your face, YEAH, love those face shields!!! I wish I kept that face shield to show you a pic.)
e. Allow the wheel to reach full speed before getting into the grinding position. (A cracked wheel may blow and anything down in the guard will shoot out. before you get in front,)
f. Make sure the grinder has a guard. (Bare wheels can be bad news)
g. Place the tool rest 1/8 from the wheel. (Why? A big gap allows the item to be pulled down into the grinder and shot back at you) (Face Shield)
h. Grind on the face of the wheel. (Using the sides may weaken the integrity of the wheel leading to catastrophic failure)
i. Use vise-grip pliers or clamp to hold small pieces. (Your fingers can’t hold it as well, and the material can get very HOTTT Very Fast)
j. Move the material slowly across the wheel face.
k. Allow the wheel to stop naturally when turning it off. (Don’t use your hands E-candidate. The motor can keep going a while if there are fingers down in there or not.)
l. Periodically check for soundness of grinding wheels. (I like to give them a LITTLE tap on the side with a metal object before I start it. A Dull Wheel Is A Dead Wheel!)
m. Never leave a grinder going unattended.
 
      2. Hand Before starting a portable grinder, look to see where the sparks might fall