Experts Rate Hand Tool Safety Rules

For the past several years the Hand Tools Institute, a trade association of American manufacturers of quality hand tools, has maintained a consumer safety education program aimed at reducing the number of accidents resulting from the misuse of striking and struck tools.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which endorses the HTI effort, estimates 30,000 persons are injured annually using hammers.

The guidelines HTI presents to the public have been developed largely from common-sense application and experience. At certain times, for different jobs, some rules might apply more than others. But there are some rules that should be followed no matter what the job.

In an HTI survey at the recent National Safety Congress, experts from across the country were asked what rules they thought should head every tool-wise person’s list. They came up with five basic guidelines to follow in all jobs involving striking and struck tools.

The experts’ most frequently cited safety rules in the order in which they are ranked:

Wear safety goggles- This reflected the fact eye injuries are the most traumatic suffered in the 30,000 accidents estimated yearly.

Select and use the proper tool for the job – With many different categories of hammers and striking tools to choose from, be sure to select the one right for a specific job.

Keep tools in good condition – Tools in good shape do a better job and are safer to use.

Never use a hammer with a chipped face or damaged handle – A loose hammer head flying off a damaged handle is extremely hazardous. Likewise, if the face shows dents, cracks, chips, mushrooming or signs of excessive wear – discard it. That goes for any striking or struck tool.

Educate all persons in the home on the proper use of hand tools – How a tool is used is just as important as what kind of tool you have chosen for a particular job. Tools should not be accessible to those who haven’t been briefed on their proper use and selection.

Striking and struck tools are relatively simple implements. The manufacturers of such tools believe most accidents can be avoided through thoughtful and informed use of their products.

Manufacturing plays a central role in the economic growth of our nation, primarily through a unique, interdependent system of innovation that affects all sectors of the economy. By nurturing innovations from concepts through to full-fledged improvements in products and processes, American manufacturing is responsible for providing the basis for more jobs, improved productivity, prosperity and a higher quality of life. Support American Manufacturing

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