Power Tools Safety

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

PowerPoint presentation

Safety, Storage and Maintenance

Unit 114: Prepare and use carpentry and joinery Portable Power Tools

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

ObjectivesTo be able to:

1.1 State types of power sources used for portable power tools

1.2 State the importance of valid PAT certificates

1.4 State the safety equipment required when using different types of portable power tools

1.5 State the importance of maintaining tools in relation to manufacturers’ instructions

1.7 State the importance of storing portable power tools safely and securely

1.6 State current legislation associated with operation of portable power tools

1.8 Identify potential hazards associated with power tools and their causes

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

Electrical cable connectors will be coloured as follows:

Blue 240 volt Single phase If using 240 volt, then an intelligent circuit breaker – a Residual Current Device (RCD) – must be used.

Yellow 110 volt Single phase

Red 410 volt Three phase The position and numbers of pins inside the connector also indicate the voltage. They help ensure that the correct connection is made..

Types of Power Sources: Electrical

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

• 110v is less likely to kill than 240v.

• This transformer reduces voltage from 240V to 110v, making use of the tool safer.

Electrical Safety Measures

• All power tools manufactured in the EU are now made with double insulation and will be stamped with a double insulation sign:

• Older tools and some unbranded far East imports may not have this safety feature and are not allowed in site work.

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

• Batteries

• Compressed air

• Canister gas: used alongside batteries in nail guns

• Gunpowder cartridges: used in specialised nail guns, which drive heavy duty fixings through steel, commonly known as a Hilti Gun

Alternative power sources

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

The importance of valid PAT certificates• Portable Appliance (PAT) Testing is NOT a legal

requirement. • However, the Health & Safety at Work Act

requires all businesses to have in place a systematic and regular program of maintenance and inspection for all their electrical equipment.

• And the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 also place a legal responsibility on employers (and employees) to take reasonable, practicable steps to ensure that no danger results from the use of portable electrical equipment.

• So, PAT Testing is normally used to meet these requirements.

• As well as legal requirements, 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances.

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

Required Safety Equipment• PPE Regulations state that PPE

should be used as a last resort: meaning, use PPE when there are still risks to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways.

• Breathing wood dust from portable power tools is a health risk (causing lung damage).

• Portable power tools should always be controlled by Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), such as chip collectors, above right.

• As a very last resort, nuisance masks and full face respirators would have to be used instead.

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

Required Safety Equipment 2• When using portable power

tools on site, workers must wear hard hats, high visibility clothing and safety boots.

• Safety glasses or goggles protect from flying materials displaced by the working tool.

• Power tools can generate high volumes of noise: ear protection must be worn. These can be ear defenders or plugs.

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

Power Tool MaintenanceCorrect maintenance of power tools is important:

• It will ensure the safety of the operator (and bystanders)

• Tools get damaged if regular maintenance is not carried out (eg guards work loose then get broken) *

• Failure to maintain tools according to manufacturers’ instructions will void the tool’s warranty

• Poorly maintained power tools will produce poor quality work

* Many power tools will have guarding as safety equipment for the user (for example, the blade guard on a chop saw). These guards must be maintained in good order and must not be removed or interfered with.

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

Power Tool StoragePower tools should be stored in a secure, clean and dry location.

Before storage:

• Check all components present

• Clean the equipment

• Check for damage (see next slide)

Correct storage of power tools is important:

• To protect the tools from damage (especially water damage which may cause the tool to become live in use and cause electric shock)

• To protect the tools from theft (sadly, too common on site)

• Failure to store according to manufacturers’ instructions will void the tool’s warranty

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

Before storage or use, you must check that the electrical equipment is in good condition. Many faults with work equipment can be found during a simple visual inspection:

• Switch off and unplug the equipment before you start any checks.

• Check the plug is not damaged and that the cable is properly secured to plug and tool

• Check the cable sheathing (insulation) is in good order, with no internal wires visible. Do not use a power tool which has the cable repaired with insulating tape or connector blocks.

• Check that the outer covers of the equipment body are not damaged (this could cause electric shock).

• Check that any guarding is present, in good order and correctly fitted.

• Check for burn marks or staining that suggests the equipment is overheating.

Power Tools: Visual Checks

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

Current legislation associated with portable power tools

• Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

• The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002

PUWER applies to all work equipment, the primary objective is to ensure equipment is provided that is safe to use. PUWER overs cranes, scaffolding, wood-working machines, dumper trucks, hand tools, portable power tools, drill bits, shovels, wheelbarrows, computers, etc.

PUWER requires use of control measures/PPE. The PPE Regulations identify which items of PPE to wear.

COSHH: because we use gas in nail guns, and compressed air in a range of workshop portable power tools.

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

Hazards associated with portable power tools

HAZARD (potential to cause harm) RISK (the harm that could result)

Noise Permanent hearing loss or damage

Dust Respiratory problems (breathing difficulties)

Flying debris/ejected materials Eye injury, head and bodily injury

Sharp tooling Cuts and lacerations

Hot tooling Burns

Electricity Electric shock, fire, explosion

Slip and trip hazards (cable, dust, shavings) Tripping and slipping, causing bodily injury

Missing, broken, badly fitted tooling and guarding Eye injury, head and bodily injury

Improper maintenance, use, storage Physical injury and damage to materials, tools and tooling

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Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

The potential for personal injury and material damage is greatly increased…

…If using:

• Poorly-maintained/damaged power tools

• Damaged/blunt tooling

…And when the operator:

• Incorrectly holds, uses, maintains or stores power tools

• Fails to use appropriate control measures (or PPE)

Hazards associated with portable power tools 2