Power Tool Tips

POWER TOOL FRIENDLY TIPS

• Never carry a tool by the cord.
• Never yank the cord to disconnect it from the receptacle.
• Keep cords away from heat, oil, and sharp edges (including the cutting surface of a power saw or drill)
• Disconnect tools when not in use, before servicing, and when changing accessories such as blades, bits, etc.
• Avoid accidental starting. Do not hold fingers on the switch button while carrying a plugged-in tool.
• Use gloves and appropriate safety footwear when using electric tools. Exception: Do not wear gloves, loose clothing or jewelry while using revolving power tools, and tie long hair back.
• Store electric tools in a dry place when not in use.
• Do not use electric tools in damp or wet locations unless they are approved for that purpose.
• Keep work areas well lighted when operating electric tools.
• Ensure that cords from electric tools do not present a tripping hazard.
• Remove all damaged portable electric tools from use and tag them: “Do Not Use.”
• Avoid accidental starting by ensuring the tool is turned off before you plug it in. Also do not walk around with a plugged-in tool with your finger touching the switch.
• Do not surprise or touch anyone who is operating a tool. It is not funny and could potentially end up as an injury or accident.
• Use Double - Insulated Tools

Why use Double-Insulated Tools? Let’s get specific. First of all, the individual wires in the tool and cord are insulated and the cord itself is also insulated. These are the first level of insulation.
With the double insulation method, the manufacturer provides a second level of insulation inside the tool, to reduce the risk of a damaged “hot” wire within the tool (generally at 120 volts AC) from coming in contact with any exposed metal on the tool.
Double insulation protects you by providing another insulation barrier, preventing a wiring defect that could allow an energized conductor to touch any metal on the tool that you can touch. A double insulated tool will be marked on its handle or on a data label with the words “Double Insulated” or with a symbol: a square box within a box.

DOUBLE INSULATION TIPS

• If approved, double-insulated tools do not require grounding under the National Electrical Code. Although this design method reduces the risk of ground deficiencies, a shock hazard can still exist.
• Such tools are often used in areas where there is considerable moisture or wetness. Although the user is insulated from the electrical wiring components, water can still enter the tool’s housing. Ordinary water is a conductor of electricity. If water contacts the energized parts inside the housing, it provides a path to the outside, bypassing the double insulation. When a person holding a hand tool under these conditions contacts another conductive surface, an electric shock occurs.
• If a power tool, even when double-insulated, is dropped into water, the employee should resist the initial human response to grab for the equipment without first disconnecting the power source.

Source: www.osha.gov