SAFE USE OF HAND OPERATED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT --



                       A SAFETY TALK FOR

                      DISCUSSION LEADERS



This safety talk is designed for discussion leaders to use in preparing safety

meetings.



Set a specific time and date for your safety meeting.  Publicize your meeting

so everyone involved will be sure to attend.



Review this safety talk before the meeting and become familiar with its

content. Make notes about the points made in this talk that pertain to your

workplace.  You should be able to present the material in your own words and

lead the discussion without reading it.



Seating space is not absolutely necessary, but arrangements should be made so

that those attending can easily see and hear the presentation.



Collect whatever materials and props you will need ahead of time.  Try to use

equipment in your workplace to demonstrate your points.





                      DURING THE MEETING



Give the safety talk in your own words.  Use the printed talk merely as a

guide.



The purpose of a safety meeting is to initiate discussion of safety problems

and provide solutions to those problems.  Encourage employees to discuss

hazards or potential hazards the encounter on the job. Ask them to suggest ways

to improve safety in their area.



Don't let the meeting turn into a gripe session about unrelated topics.  As

discussion leader, its your job to make sure the topic is safety.  Discussing

other topics wastes time and can ruin the effectiveness of your safety meeting.



At the end of the meeting, ask employees to sign a sheet on the back of this

talk as a record that they attended the safety meeting.  Keep this talk on file

for your records.







SAFE USE OF HAND OPERATED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT --



Hand-operated tools and equipment are involved in a large number of accidents

each year. In Ohio in 17, there were more than, ll,000 claims for hand-tool

injuries- -8 percent of all claims filed--with an average of l .'_ l days lost

from work for each claim. Workers have experienced eye injuries, severe

laceration and puncture wounds, broken bones, electrocution and have been

caught in tool mechanisms as a result of working with hand tools and equipment.



NOTE TO DISCUSSION LEADER:



Customize your talk to the workers' specific job functions. If you show the

percentage or number of hand-tool injuries in your department, present the

figures. Organize discission using the questions and answers given as a guide.

Do not attempt to identify canes at this point in the discussion, and try never

to find falt,



Question:



What injuries, accidents or near misses have workers in this department had

while using hand tools or equipment?



Answer:



If no instances are brought up and you know of none, use these examples: A

maintenance worker uses adjustable pliers instead of a socket wrench or box

wrench to loosen a nut; a worker uses a claw hammer to strike a cold chisel

with a mushroomed head; or a worker uses an electric power tool that has the

grounding conductor removed.



What are the most frequent causes of hard-tool and equipment accidents?



Answer



þ Using hand tools improperly or abusing the equipment--grinding a piece of

stock on the side of a grinding wheel instead of using the front surface, or

using the back of a drill motor as a hammer.



þUsing the wrong tool or piece of equipment for the particular job--using a

screwdriver as a pry bar or chisel, or using a pipe wrench to loosen a nut.



þ Using unsafe tools--cutting tools such as axes, bits, chisels or knives that

are dull, or electrical tools with worn or cut cord insulation exposing the

conductors.





NOTE TO DISCISSION LEADER:



Ask the group to recall instances where tools or equipment were misused, the

wrong tool was used or equipment was in poor or unsafe condition. Be prepared

to cite several instances (without finding fault) that you are.aware of, or

areas where you have concerns, to supplement information from group.



Demonstrate safe use of a tool found in your department



Review the following safe work practices, reinforcing that you consider them

minimum standards for working safely with hand tools or equipment



þ Use the right tool or piece of equipment for the job.



þ Use only tools in safe condition.



þ Tools and equipment must be used properly and not abused.



þ Never apply a hand tool to a piece of moving machinery.



þ Before starting a job, ask, "What could possibly go wrong?" and, "How could

the job be done better/safer?"



NOTE TO DISCUSSION LEADER:



Close the discussion by asking for questions or concerns. Make sure that the

woes understand that you are concerned about their safety and health.



If the employees have questions regarding safety procedures, tell where copies

of the procedures are located, or how they can get information. Above all, if

you do not know the-answer to a question, say so. And then get the answer to

them as soon as possible. .
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Text Version