Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

11.8.1 Hand 
tools
Hand tools should be properly controlled including those 
tools owned by employees. The following controls are 
important.
Suitability
– all tools should be suitable for the pur-
pose and location in which they are to be used. This will 
include:
➤
specially protected and insulated tools for electricians
➤
non-sparking tools for fl ammable atmospheres and 
the use of non-percussion tools and cold cutting 
methods
➤
tools made of suitable quality materials which will 
not chip or splay in normal use
➤
the correct tools for the job, for example, using the 
right-sized spanner and the use of mallets on chisel 
heads
➤
safety knives with enclosed blades for regular cut-
ting operations
➤
scissors with blunted ends.
Inspection
– all tools should be maintained in a safe and 
proper condition. This can be achieved through:
➤
the regular inspection of hand tools
➤
discarding or prompt repair of defective tools
➤
taking time to keep tools in the proper condition and 
ready for use
➤
proper storage to prevent damage and corrosion
➤
locking tools away when not in use to prevent them 
being used by unauthorized people.
Training
– all users of hand tools should be prop-
erly trained in their use. This may well have been done 
through apprenticeships and similar training. This will be 
particularly important with specialist working conditions 
or work involving young people.
11.8.2 Hand-held power tools
Hazards
The electrical hazards of portable hand-held tools are 
covered in Chapter 10. This section deals with other 
physical hazards relating to this type of equipment, par-
ticularly a drill and sander.
Other hazards involve:
➤
mechanical entanglement in rotating spindles or 
sanding discs
➤
waste material fl ying out of the cutting area
➤
coming into contact with the cutting blades or 
drill bits
➤
risk of hitting electrical, gas or water services when 
drilling into building surfaces
➤
manual handling problem with a risk of injury if the 
tool is heavy or very powerful
➤
hand–arm vibration especially with petrol strimmers 
and chainsaws
➤
tripping hazard from trailing cables or power supplies
➤
eye hazard from fl ying particles
Figure 11.8
Typical range of hand tools.

---