Hand Tool Safety Basics
Hand tools don’t have motors, but they still cause cuts, bruises, broken bones, eye injuries and strains every day. Almost all hand tool injuries come down to four rules.
- Construction
- General Industry
Photo: organized tool bag with hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers and knife
The four rules
- Use the right tool for the job. Don’t use a screwdriver as a chisel, a wrench as a hammer, or pliers as a wrench.
- Keep tools in good condition. Inspect before use. Your employer must not let you use unsafe tools, and you must report them.
- Use tools correctly. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your training.
- Store tools safely. Keep them in a box, belt or rack, not lying where they can trip or fall on people.
Inspect for
- Cracked, split, splintered or loose handles
- Mushroomed heads on chisels, punches and wedges
- Sprung or worn jaws on wrenches and pliers
- Dull or chipped blades and cutting edges
- Damaged insulation on insulated tools
Good practices
- Wear safety glasses whenever striking, cutting or prying.
- Cut, pull and push away from your body and keep your free hand out of the path.
- Keep a firm grip and a stable stance; secure the work with clamps or a vise.
- Use spark-resistant tools (brass, bronze) in areas with flammable vapors or dust.
- Use insulated tools rated for the voltage when working near electrical parts (and only if qualified).
- Tether tools when working at height. See Tool Tethering & Dropped Objects.
- Don’t carry sharp or pointed tools in your pockets.
- Don’t throw tools to another worker. Hand them over handle-first.
- Don’t use “cheater bars” on wrenches or extend handles beyond what they were made for.
Common hand tool injuries and how to prevent them
| Injury | Usual cause | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Deep cuts to hands and legs | Knife slips while cutting toward the body or a hand holding the work | Sharp blades, cut away from the body, cut-resistant gloves, self-retracting utility knives |
| Eye injuries | Chips from striking hardened steel, mushroomed chisels, wire snapping | Safety glasses, dress mushroomed heads, use the right hammer for the job |
| Smashed fingers and hands | Missed hammer blows, pinch points, slipping wrenches | Hold nails with pliers or a magnet, pull wrenches toward you, brace for slips |
| Strains and sprains | Forcing tools, awkward wrists, repetitive gripping | Choose tools that keep your wrist straight, use the right size handle, rotate tasks. See Lifting & Ergonomics. |
| Struck by dropped tools | Tools falling from ladders, lifts, scaffolds and roofs | Tethers, toe boards, debris nets and keeping people out from below. See Tool Tethering. |
| Electric shock | Uninsulated tools touching live parts | Only qualified workers near energized parts. See Electrical Basics. |
Choosing a good tool
- Fit: handles should fill your grip without forcing your fingers wide open or letting them overlap. For most people, a handle diameter of about 1¼ to 2 inches works for power grips.
- Weight: heavier isn’t always better. A tool you can control is safer than one that wears you out by mid-morning.
- Quality: cheap wrenches and sockets can crack or round off fasteners and slip. Forged tools from a reputable maker last longer.
- Gloves: pick gloves that fit snugly. Bulky gloves make you grip harder and can catch in tools.
Your role and your employer’s role
Your employer is responsible for the safe condition of tools, including tools you bring from home. You’re responsible for inspecting them, using them correctly and reporting damage. Tag damaged tools “Do Not Use” and take them out of service so no one else picks them up. Power tools add hazards of their own. See Power Tool Safety.
Video: 60-second hand tool inspection
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.301: Hand tools (construction)
- 29 CFR 1910.242: Hand and portable powered tools, general
- OSHA Publication 3080: Hand and Power Tools
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