Professional Distributor - A7

TOOL SAFETY

Get a hold on hand tool safety
Hand tools are just as much of a concern as any other
tool in the shop when it comes to safety.
by Kayla Oschmann, Assistant Editor

and tools continue to be vital
instruments for technicians.
From basic hand tools
(wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers,
ratchets) to specialty hand tools (oil
filter wrenches, wheel weight pliers,
O-ring removers, clip lifters), there are
hundreds available for technicians to
choose from and all are designed to
make their jobs easier.
As common as hand tools are in dayto-day jobs for technicians, they can still
pose hazards in a busy work environment.
As with any type of tool or piece of equipment, there is a need for safety awareness
and training. It is important to be aware
of potential hand tool dangers to prevent
incidents from happening and utilize best
practices to keep yourself - and everyone
else in the shop - safe.

DON'T DO THIS...
There are two main causes for hand
tool accidents and injuries: using a tool

Photo from Assured Auto Works

incorrectly, and improper maintenance.
As straightforward as most hand tools
may seem, it is essential for technicians
to learn how to properly operate each one
before first using it on a job. According
to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), employees
should be trained in the proper use of
all tools, and hand tools are to be operated according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
"We have been told as technicians
our entire career not to use a screwdriver
as a pry bar, yet a large percentage of
technicians do," says Brin Kline, owner
of Assured Auto Works in Melbourne,
Florida. "It's a no-no. The blade on the
screwdriver can chip and that can fly into
your eye or someone else's."
Unfortunately, there are many incidents where technicians use tools in
unsafe situations.
"Nobody wants to see anyone get
hurt," says Chuck Loparo, director of sales

and marketing at Midwest Tool, a hand
tool manufacturer. Loparo is also an active
member of the Hand Tool Institute (HTI),
a trade association comprised of members
from North American manufacturers of
non-powered hand tools. "A large part of
HTI's mission is that we want people to
use [hand] tools properly so there is a lot
less risk of injury."
Loparo shares three common scenarios in which he has experienced technicians using hand tools incorrectly.
* Adding extension to a tool to get
more leverage, such as putting a pipe
wrench on the end of a tool. This puts
the tool in a situation to fail, which
then can cause harm to the technician.
* Using any tool as a striking tool.
* Exposing a tool to heat, which then
damages the tool's durability. For
example, a technician uses a hand tool
as a method to hold an object when
using a torch to heat up seized bolts.
That exposure undoes the manufacturer's heat treating, causing the tool
to become brittle. The tool can then
shed and eventually break.
Repetitive use and damage to tools can
cause serious injury. When not properly
cared for, hand tools pose a hazard. Dull
knives, splinters in wooden handles, and
cracked tips are all examples that can
be easily addressed if tools are kept well
maintained and stored appropriately.

DO THIS...
Safety is everyone's responsibility. It is up
to shop owners and technicians to work
together to establish best practices for
hand tool use within their shops. Creating an environment where safety is at the
forefront and is encouraged reduces the
risk of injuries, which then increases shop
productivity. It's a win-win for everyone.
Reminding technicians about common hand tool safety is a great start. Shop
owners can use visual reminders such as
posters, brochures, or videos around the
shop or in the break room, as well as discuss safety during staff meetings.
OSHA adds these reminders when it

February 2020 I Hand & Specialty Tools I 7

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