Power tools require safety. Improper usage of power tools can lead to injury and the potential to lose a finger, eye or other body part in severe circumstances. Proper safety measures reduce the risk of injury and help jobs get done faster.

What Are Power Tools:

Power tools are tools powered by a battery, electricity, fuel, or compressed air. Power- tools are propelled by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labor used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also commonly used. Other power sources include steam engines, direct burning of fuels and propellants, such as in powder-actuated tools, or even natural power sources such as wind or moving water. Tools directly driven by animal power are not generally considered power tools.

Power tools are used in industry, in construction, in the garden, for housework tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and around the house for purposes of driving, drilling, cutting, shaping, sanding, grinding, routing, polishing, painting, heating and more.

Classification of Power Tools

Power tools are classified as either stationary or portable:

Portable power tools: Portable means hand-held. Portable power tools have obvious advantages in mobility. Portable power tools are a general category of tools used in construction and manufacturing industries, designed to be easily moved from place to place. The term generally refers to smaller hand tools that can be carried on a tool belt or easily transported in a tool box. They will either be electric tools powered through a cord, or cordless tools powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Examples include hand saw: Cordless Circular Saws, Ryobi Tools, Circular Saws, Cordless Tools, Portable Table Saw, Rigid Power Tools, etc.

Stationary power tools: Stationary power tools have advantages in speed and precision. A typical table saw, for instance, not only cuts faster than a regular hand saw, but the cuts are smoother, straighter, and more squared than what is normally achievable with a hand-held power saw.

Router Table, Lathe, Shop Vacuum, Scroll Saw, Miter Saw (chop saw, compound miter saw), Band Saw, Stationary Belt Sander, Drill Press, Table Saw

Understanding Safety

Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other non-desirable outcomes. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury.

Injury is also known as physical trauma, is damage to the body caused by external force. This may be caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and other causes.

SAFETY MEASURES BEFORE USING POWER TOOLS

A. Read the Instruction Manual

Improper operation, even for a split second, can cause serious risk and injury. That is why every Power tool comes with an instruction manual. Every manufacturer will provide an instruction manual on how to use a desired power tool. Failure to read this manual is the user’s fault.

Instruction manual provides invaluable information designed to:

Demonstrate how to use the tool.

Increase the safety of the user.

Reduce the risk of injury.

B. Maintenance and Inspection of The Tool

Power tools need to be properly maintained before usage. Routine maintenance and inspection can help prevent a silly injury from occurring,

Always inspect the tool prior to usage to look for any:

Cracks.

Breakage.

C.  Being Cautious of The Environment

The work environment itself can be a major safety hazard. Whether using a skill saw, electric drill or a manual hammer, it’s vital to make the environment safe. A common hazard is the usage of power tools requiring an air compressor. The hose can pose a risk of tripping and falling for both the user and anyone else in the space. Keep the air compressor hose clearly in view and warn others of the hose to reduce risks.

The environment can include:

Workspace.

People in the vicinity of the workspace.

D.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The first step in the equation is safety gear. PPE is a must. Proper PPE can go a long way in ensuring safety of the user. If safety gear is neglected, the risks of injury are exponentially higher.

The PFE most recommended includes:

Thick industrial gloves designed to protect the hands.

Safety glasses designed to protect the eyes from projectiles.

Hard hats used to protect the wearer from potential falling material.

Boots designed to protect the feet from injury.

POWER TOOLS SAFETY

Using power tools comes with a lot of responsibility, and this means that the user must be cautious of every move he or she makes.

The points that are recommended for proper power tool usage are many, but the most important ones are:

• Wear the proper safety gear as advised in the instruction manual.
• Common sense needs to be used when operating all types of power tools. This means keeping fingers and limbs out of the danger area. If another person is in the same area, they need to be made aware of the tool’s usage and also wear protective gear.
• Properly maintain the tool and follow appropriate procedures if the tool jams.
• Seek training to use the tool properly
• Use the right tool for the job. The wrong tool presents a risk of injury or extending the length of the project.
• Always point the tool away from the body and face when in use.
• Keep electrical tools away from combustible materials.
• Maintain a tight grip on the tool to avoid potential droppage and injuries,
• Remove all power sources when refilling or maintaining the tool.
• Never walk with the finger on the tool’s trigger.
• Inspect the power cord for any potential breaks or damage prior to usage.
• Keep power tools in a safe location out of reach of kids and inexperienced users.
• Never remove safety measures put in place by the manufacturer.

Contact us at GZ Industrial Supplies for more information on procurement of Power tools and Safety equipment. We have all categories of safety supplies in all our locations within Nigeria