Hand & Power Tool Safety in Construction

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Consultation & Training

What’s the Hazard?We often assume that employees know how to use hand and power tools safely and correctly.Observation and records of injuries show this is often not the case.

29 CFR 1926 Construction Subpart I – Hand and Power Tools

1926.300 - General requirements1926.301 - Hand tools1926.302 - Power-operated hand tools1926.303 - Abrasive wheels and tools1926.304 - Woodworking tools1926.305 - Jacks: lever and ratchet, screw,hydraulic1926.306 - Air receivers1926.307 - Mechanical power-transmission apparatus

Hand and Power Tools

1926.300 General Requirements

Typical hand and power tools hazards include: Damaged and defective tools being used Not using tools for the intended purpose Tools not maintained or used according to

manufacturer instructions Guards not being used Tools not inspected often enough Failure to use necessary PPE

Condition of Tools1926.300(a) All hand and power tools and similar equipment,

whether furnished by the employer or the employee, shall be maintained in a safe condition.

Tool Guards

1926.300(b)(1) When power operated tools are designed to

accommodate guards, they shall be equipped with such guards when in use.

Tool Guards

1926.300(b)(2) Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys,

sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating or moving parts of equipment shall be guarded if such parts are exposed to contact by employees or otherwise create a hazard.

Tool Guards

1926.300(b)(4)(ii) The point of operation of machines whose

operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded.

Guarding Blades1926.300(b)(5) When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than

7 feet above the floor or working level, the blades shall be guarded.

Guards shall have openings no larger than 1/2 inch.

Guarding Abrasive Wheels1926.300(b)(8) “Safety Guard” The angular exposure

of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on machines known as bench and floor stands should not exceed 90ºor 1/4 of the periphery.

90 deg. guard

Adjustable tongue

Work rest

1/4”

Guarding Abrasive Wheels1926.300(b)(7) “Tongue Guards” The distance between the wheel periphery and the

adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed 1/4 inch.

Guarding Abrasive Wheels1926.300(9) The maximum angular exposure of the

grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on cylindrical grinding machines shall not exceed 180º.

180º

Personal Protective Equipment1926.300(c) Employees using hand

and power tools and exposed to the hazard of falling, flying, abrasive, and splashing objects, or exposed to harmful dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases shall be provided with the particular personal protective equipment necessary to protect them from the hazard.

Switches1926.300(d) All hand-held powered

platen sanders, grinders with wheels 2-inch diameter or less, routers, planers, laminate trimmers, nibblers, shears, scroll saws, and jigsaws with blade shanks ¼ of an inch wide or less may be equipped with only a positive "on-off" control.

positive "on-off" control

Switches1926.300(d)(2) All hand-held powered drills,

tappers, fastener drivers, horizontal, vertical, and angle grinders with wheels greater than 2 inches in diameter, disc sanders, belt sanders, reciprocating saws, saber saws, and other similar operating powered tools shall be equipped with a momentary contact "on-off" control and may have a lock-on control provided that turnoff can be accomplished by a single motion of the same finger or fingers that turn it on.

on-off control

Switches1926.300(d)(3) All other hand-held powered tools, such as circular

saws, chain saws, and percussion tools without positive accessory holding means, shall be equipped with a constant pressure switch that will shut off the power when the pressure is released.

ON POSITION OFF POSITION

Hand Tools

Hand tools are non-powered - they include anything from axes to wrenches. Employers are responsible for issuing acceptable tools and employees are primarily responsible for maintain the tools in acceptable condition.The greatest hazards result from misuse, improper maintenance and lack of regular inspection.

Hand Tools

1926.301(a) Employers shall not issue or permit the use of

unsafe hand tools.

Hand Tools

1926.301(b) Wrenches, including adjustable, pipe, end,

and socket wrenches shall not be used when jaws are sprung to the point that slippage occurs.

Hand Tools

1926.301(c) Impact tools, such as drift pins, wedges, and

chisels, shall be kept free of mushroomed heads.

Hand Tools

1926.301(d) The wooden handles of tools shall be kept

free of splinters or cracks and shall be kept tight in the tool.

Power-operated ToolsHazards created when using power tools can be prevented by following basic safety rules: Use the right tool for the job. Keep all tools in good condition with regular

maintenance. Examine each tool for damage before use. Operate according to the manufacturer's instructions. Provide and use the proper protective equipment.

Power tool types include: electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, powder-actuated and liquid fuel.

Electric Tools

1926.302(a) Electric power operated tools shall either be of the approved double-insulated type or grounded in accordance with 1926 Subpart K.

Double-insulated marking

Electric Tools

1926.302(b) The use of electric

cords for hoisting or lowering tools shall not be permitted.

Pneumatic Tools

1926.302(b)(1) Pneumatic power tools shall be secured to the

hose or whip by some positive means to prevent the tool from becoming accidentally disconnected.

Wire used to secure hose

Pneumatic ToolsFittings and connectors must be correct for the tool pressure, use and environmental conditions.

GENERALLY UNACCEPTABLE ACCEPTABLE

Pneumatic Tools1926.302(b)(3) All pneumatically driven

nailers, staplers, and other similar equipment provided with automatic fastener feed, which operate at more than 100 p.s.i. pressure at the tool shall have a safety device on the muzzle to prevent the tool from ejecting fasteners, unless the muzzle is in contact with the work surface.

Muzzle in contact with work surface

Pneumatic Tools1926.302(b)(4) Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning

purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment which meets the requirements of Subpart E.

Powder-actuated Tools

1926.302(e)(1) Only employees who have been trained in the

operation of the particular tool in use shall be allowed to operate a powder-actuated tool.

Powder-actuated Tool

1926.302(e)(6) Loaded tools shall not be left unattended.

Powder-actuated Tools1926.302(e)(8) Driving into materials

easily penetrated shall be avoided unless such materials are backed by a substance that will prevent the pin or fastener from passing completely through and creating a flying missile hazard on the other side.

Powder-actuated Tools1926.302(e)(12) Powder-actuated tools used by employees shall meet

all other applicable requirements of ANSI A10.3-1970, Safety Requirements for Explosive-Actuated Fastening Tools.

Abrasive Wheels and Tools

Powered abrasive grinding, cutting, polishing, and wire buffing wheels create special safety problems because they may throw off debris, flying fragments or parts of a disintegrating wheel.When using abrasive wheel tools, always: Inspect the tool thoroughly Follow manufacturer instructions Always use guards and PPE

Abrasive Wheels1926.303(a) All grinding machines shall be supplied with sufficient

power to to maintain the spindle speed at safe levels under all conditions of normal operation.

Using Abrasive Wheels1926.303(c)(1) Floor stand and bench mounted abrasive wheels,

used for external grinding, shall be provided with safety guards.

Using Abrasive Wheels1926.303(c)(5) When safety guards are

required, they shall be so mounted as to maintain proper alignment with the wheel, and the guard and its fastenings shall be of sufficient strength to retain fragments of the wheel in case of accidental breakage.

Using Abrasive Wheels

1926.303(c)(7) “ Ring Test” All abrasive wheels shall be closely inspected

and ring-tested before mounting to ensure that they are free from cracks and defects.

Using Abrasive Wheels

1926.303(e) “Work Rest” On floor and bench

mounted grinders, shall be provided with work rests which are rigidly supported and readily adjustable. Such work rests shall be kept at a distance not to exceed 1/8 inch from the surface of the wheel.

Using Abrasive Wheels1926.303(c)(9) All employees using abrasive wheels shall be

protected by eye protection equipment in accordance with the requirements of Subpart E of this part, except when adequate eye protection is afforded by eye shields which are permanently attached to the bench or floor stand.

Woodworking ToolsThe circular saw is probably the most commonly used power saw in construction and perhaps the most commonly abused. Safe use of wood working tools includes: Only use sharp blades - dull blades cause binding,

stalling and kickback. Use correct blade with proper shape, size arbor hole

and speed for the tool. Never defeat the guard to expose the blade by tying

or pinning it back. Ensure the power cord is out of the way.

Woodworking Tools1926.304(d) All portable, power-driven circular saws shall be

equipped with guards above and below the base plate or shoe.

When tool is withdrawn from the work, the lower guard shall automatically and instantly return to the covering position.

Woodworking Tools

1926.304(g)(1) “Radial Saws” The upper hood shall completely enclose the

upper portion of the blade down to a point that will include the end of the saw arbor.

Lower blade guard

Upper hood guard

Woodworking Tools1926.304(g)(1) “Radial Saws” The sides of the lower exposed portion of the blade

shall be guarded to the full diameter of the blade by a device that will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock and remain in contact with stock being cut.

Woodworking Tools

1926.304(i)(1) “Rip Saws” Each circular hand-fed ripsaw shall be

guarded by a hood which shall completely enclose the portion of the saw above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being cut.

Hood guard

Woodworking Tools

1926.304(h)(1) “Table Saws” Shall meet all the requirements of paragraph

(1)(i) of this section for hoods for circular ripsaws.

In Review

Hand and power tools precautions include: Ensure employees are properly trained Read and follow the equipment operator

manual and manufacturer instructions Use tools for the specific task designed Inspect tools before each use Do not use damaged or defective tools Immediately repair, remove, disable or tag

damaged/defective tools

Referenceswww.osha.gov 29 CFR 1926 Construction Standards OSHA Construction eTool

www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/index.html OSHA Hand and Power Tools Safety and

Health Topicwww.osha.gov/SLTC/handpowertools/index.html

OSHA PublicationsOSHA 3080 Hand and Power Tools - 2002

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