Use and Care Manual

General Safety for all Hand Tools
Always wear safety approved eye protection
•Tool usage often involves forces that are much higher and more concentrated
than most tool users realize. Because of this, failures often result in material
fragments being thrown at a high rate of speed. Eye protection, such as safety-
rated glasses or goggles, is essential when using any type of hand tool.
Use proper hand protection
•Depending on the task, it may be advisable to wear gloves to protect hands from
cuts and abrasion. Select gloves that provide the proper degree of protection
while assuring an adequate level of sensory feedback so the worker can maintain
complete control of the tool they are using.
Dress appropriately for the job
Along with proper eye and hand protection, steel toe shoes may be advisable.
Avoid loose fitting clothing and remove all jewelry.
Follow good ergonomic practice
Simply stated, ergonomics attempts to fit the work to the worker by analyzing four
things: the worker, the workplace, the task, and the tool. As such, proper hand
tool selection is only one part of good ergonomic practice. Additionally, the
frequency of tool use and the degree of repetitive motion required by the work
are key factors in determining the need for special “ergonomically designed”
hand tools. If a task involves constant use of a single tool and highly repetitive
motion for long periods, specially designed tools are recommended, however in
most cases, a common sense approach to hand tool ergonomics is the proper
recommendation:
•The tool should function effectively. For example, a pair of tin snips should
easily cut thin sheet metal without the need for excessive force.
•The tool should fit the operator. Not only should the tool fit a user’s hand
properly, but it should also match the operator’s work capacity and skill.
•The tool should not produce fatigue
•The tool should provide sensory feedback. You should be able to sense
pressure, impact, texture, etc.
•Smooth cylinders are generally not the best shape for most tool handles
•Form fitting handles (with ridges to fit the fingers) should be avoided
•Handle materials should provide enough friction for an adequate grip
•Tools should be designed to allow a “power grip” (fingers wrapped completely
around tool, providing the strongest grip) wherever possible
•“Pinch grip” positioning (as in holding a pencil, where the fingertips apply
relatively high force) should be avoided, since it increases the chance of injury
Transport tools safely
•Whenever possible, carry tools in a toolbox. When you must carry individual
tools, keep sharp tools, such as screwdrivers, pointed down.