Hand tools and hand tool safety are too often taken for granted. Hammers, knives, wrenches, files, screwdrivers, saws, and others are often so casually treated that their danger is not realized.
Almost all hand tool injuries can be avoided if these basic rules are followed:
Be sure your hands are free of dirt, grease, and oil when using tools.
Use the proper type and size of hand tool.
Make sure that the tools you are going to use are sharp and in good condition.
Use edged or pointed tools with special care.
When using a sharp-edged tool, point the edge away from yourself and your classmates.
Keep tools and materials from projecting over the edges of benches.
Hold or clamp all work in a vise.
Use a brush to clean chips, shavings, or scraps from tools and benches.
Wear eye protection at all times.
Arrange your work so that classmates are protected from flying chips.
Pass tools to others with the handles first.
Select the proper saw for the job to be done.
Clear the work area before sawing. Make sure that the material to be sawed is well supported.
Saws jump out of the cut when improperly engaged or forced. Start the cut on the back stroke by guiding the blade with your thumb. Move your free hand away after the cut is started.
When finished with the saw, place it so that no one can accidentally brush against the teeth. When saws are not in use, hang them up in their proper place.
Watch your saw and your work. When nearing the end of a cut, ease up on the pressure and stroke.
Select the right type of chisel for the job. (Some chisels are not designed to be struck with a mallet.)
If a chisel is designed to be struck, use a mallet.
Inspect the tool to see that the cutting edge is sharp. The handle must be tight and in good condition.
Always carry sharp-edged tools with the cutting edge pointed down.
Clamp your work on the bench or secure it in a vise.
Always cut away from yourself and other students, except with the draw knife which must be pulled toward yourself with both hands.
Control chisels, gouges, and carving tools with one hand while the other hand supplies the power.
Never try to hold your work by hand while using a gouge or wood chisel.
Select the correct type of file for the job.
Never use a file without a handle. Be sure that the handle is properly secured to the file.
Keep files clean to prevent their slipping on the work.
Files are hard and brittle. Avoid striking them against a surface or using them as pry bars.
Select the right type of hacksaw blade for the type of material to be cut.
Inspect the frame to see that the blade is properly installed.
Hacksaw blades are made of hardened steel and will shatter if forced during the cut.
Watch your saw and your work. Ease up on the pressure and stroke as the cut is being completed.
Never use a hacksaw as a hammer to knock off a piece of material that has been partially cut.
Be certain your work is securely clamped when using planes, scrapers, and burnishers.
When filing a scraper by certain to grasp the toe of the file with your other hand.
Inspect wood for exposed splinters before using the scrapers.
Keep your knuckles away from sharp corners of the wood.
Use the proper type and size of hammer for the job.
When hammering machined, tempered, or hardened surfaces, use a soft-faced hammer such as rawhide, lead, or copper.
Check to see that the hammer head is not damaged, and that it is securely attached to the handle. The handle must be firm and free from cracks or splinters.
Before using a hammer, make sure that your hands and the handle are dry.
Do not choke up on the hammer. Grip it near the end of the handle and use a normal swing.
Use a screwdriver of the correct size and shape for the job.
Be sure the blade is in good condition. If it is not, check with your instructor.
Never hold the work in your hand while using a screwdriver.
Clamp small work on the bench or secure it in a vise when driving screws.
Screwdrivers are not to be used as chisels or pry bars.
Use a screwdriver with an insulated handle when working with electrical equipment.
Never use pliers on a screwdriver to increase the twist.
Use a wrench big enough for the job. Never get leverage by slipping a piece of pipe over the handle.
When using adjustable wrenches, pull toward the movable jaw. The pressure will then be against the stationary jaw.
Jaws on all wrenches must fit snugly around the bolt or nut.
Never apply a wrench to moving machinery. Do not leave a wrench where it can cause injury to you or others.
Select the proper tool for the job.
Check the brace for proper alignment and assembly. Check the drill or bit for sharpness.
Always assemble and disassemble the brace and bit or hand drill at the work station.
Ease up on pressure when a drill or bit is “breaking through” the material.