Health & Safety When Operating Power Tools
According to the HSE, almost half of all accidents involving power tools and abrasive wheels result from a mistake made by the operator, or an unsafe system of work, both of which can be avoided if an adequate health and safety policy is followed.
We’ve put together a simple guide for those expected to use power tools as part of their job, to help uphold effective health and safety. Although every workplace will have a different risk assessment and different health and safety considerations, the points below are applicable to anyone undertaking power tool work.
Inspection & Maintenance
Regular inspection and maintenance of power tools, such as abrasive wheels, drills and sanders, is key to avoiding potential accidents and injuries, and will minimise the downtime of your tools that need repairing.
Anyone expected to use tools like this as part of their day-to-day job should be properly trained and experienced in carrying out visual checks before starting work. These checks should be sufficient to identify obvious defects, such as damaged cables or plug connections. Any tool that raises concerns should be taken out of action until it has been properly serviced.
All hand-held and power tools should also undergo regular, planned maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer guidelines. This maintenance should be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician or equally competent person.
Using the right tool, speed & attachment
Ensuring that you have the correct tools available for every task is only part of your responsibility to your staff. You also need to ensure that all staff are trained to an appropriate level to identify the best tools for each job.
This includes being able to choose an attachment, such as the type of abrasive wheel or the drill bit, that will safely get the job done.
Once the tool and attachment has been chosen, the final thing to check is that your employees know how to set the running speed appropriately. Too fast could not only damage the materials and tools, but could mean the equipment is unsafe to handle and may result in serious injury to the operative.
Safety guards & enclosures
All tools, machines and equipment, with mechanical moving parts, should have an appropriate safety guard or enclosure to stop operatives gettings hands, limbs, clothing or hair trapped in the moving parts.
Injuries resulting from this kind of accident can have severe and disabling consequences, but can be avoided if the safety guard or enclosure is properly positioned and locked off.
It is also important that workers understand the risks associated with moving parts, so your health and safety policy should forbid workers from tampering with the guards, or removing them to ‘fix’ any problems.
If a problem occurs that requires the guard to be removed, a qualified and competent engineer should be called in to assess and fix the issue.
PPE
When using power tools of any kind, operatives should be supplied with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Safety aprons, masks, gloves, steel toe-capped boots and goggles are just some of the PPE that should be made available.
All staff should be fully trained to choose the most effective PPE for the task at hand, and they should be taught to properly inspect it before use.
Signage should be placed around work areas to remind operatives not to begin work unless they are wearing the correct safety clothing.
As an employer, it is also your responsibility to provide the most appropriate PPE, in the correct sizes for your workers. You also have a duty to ensure this equipment is regularly inspected and repaired or replaced as necessary.
Health and Safety Training Ltd
Here at Health and Safety Training Ltd, we offer a range of courses that can be tailored to suit the specific needs of your business and operatives.
This includes courses for you staff and managers in general occupational health and safety, as well as more tool specific courses such as our specialist abrasive wheels and cutting discs courses.
For more information, or to speak to a member of our team about your training requirements, simply get in touch today.
Is Migrant Labour the best solution to the skills gap in the UK? Lack of Apprenticeships Jeopardises the Recovery of the Construction Industry