Hand tools

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If you’re not giving much thought to how you choose hand tools, you should. That’s the message the Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR), via its choosehandsafety.org website, wants you to keep in mind.

According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, hammers are “widely used and often abused.” So, what can workers do to avoid injuries?

Supervisors are responsible for the safety and health of their employees. This holds true when ensuring employees are using tools safely.

Sanding machines can be dangerous if not properly handled. To help stay safe, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety advises workers to read the owner’s manual of the sander and thoroughly understand how to use it.

Tingling, numbness or pain experienced when operating vibrating tools should not be considered part of the job.

A hammer is an impact tool – a tool used to drive items into material by way of manual or powered force – and, according to the National Safety Council, is a common source of injury.

When used improperly, pneumatic nail guns can cause severe injuries in a number of ways.

According to NIOSH, the use of non-powered hand tools in work settings can contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. These injuries can be reduced if users choose the right tool for the job.

Using tool belts can be helpful for carting a large number of tools around a jobsite. But when fully loaded, tool belts can weigh upward of 50 pounds, according to OSHA.

Every tool serves a purpose, but according to the National Safety Council, the screwdriver is perhaps the most misused and abused tool in the workplace.