Workplace Power Tool Safety

Federal law requires that employers provide a safe work environment for those using power tools. That requirement, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA regulations, says employers must "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees".

If you are on the job with equipment that has compromised power tool safety features, frayed power cords, or other safety problems, it's your right - and responsibility - to turn these power tools over to a supervisor and request replacements. Do not work or allow others to work with malfunctioning tools or tools in poor repair. If you find yourself in need of evidence to make a case for the replacement or repair of such tools, it is a very good idea to use a cell phone camera or small digital camera to take photos of the tools in question, paying particular attention to the defects where visible, and any company logo or identifying stamp. These photographs make a very strong case for getting the tools replaced. They can also be considered evidence in cases of employer negligence cases.

Tool Belts, Bags, and Totes - How Heavy Is Too Heavy?

Tool belts and totes can easily be loaded down with too much weight for prolonged wear. Ergonomically speaking, it is recommended that a full backpack, with weight evenly distributed across both shoulders, be only 15 percent of your body weight. Cut that number in half for a single shoulder tote, and its easy to see how quickly a bag can become too heavy. Tool belts, on the other hand, have a more even weight distribution around the body, but you should still pay attention to how much weight you carry around the waist. In addition to the ergonomic issue, balance can also be a problem if you aren't used to carrying the weight. The last thing a newcomer to the toolkit needs is to lose balance while operating a handsaw or nail gun. Lighten the load, bring only what you need, and make a second trip for the rest.

Outgrowing Your Old Tool Box, Belt, Or Tote

When you get started with tools as a beginner, you'll probably outgrow much of your early hand tool storage solutions as your collection of tools gets larger. What to do with all the old storage solutions, totes, and other gear your collection is now too large for? For starters, you may be able to donate a pile of such equipment to a local charitable organization, church, or community improvement group. If you are trying to raise a bit of money for additional tool purchases, you can sell your old storage solutions on Craigslist.com or eBay. Of course, you can always hang on to these smaller items if you have teenagers who display interest in your work. Chances are an interested teen will need these smaller items for a growing kit of their own. The Montana National Guard has a unique tool recycling program where reusable items are distributed to those who need them. If such a program does not exist in your area, you could start your own neighborhood version, or work with a local body to collect and distribute tools to local high school shop classes who could probably use the donations.

How Your Cell Phone Can Help When Purchasing Cordless Tools

When you are purchasing cordless tools, it’s a very good idea to use the same criteria you use in purchasing a cell phone.

• How does the tool fit into your hand?
  
• How long does it take to charge?
  
• Most importantly, how long will the battery last? If you buy a cordless drill, you want to be able to get as much battery life out of it as possible.
  
• What happens when the battery begins to run down? With a cell phone, you get service until the battery finally just conks out, but with a drill you may get reduced power, deceased torque, or other issues.
  
• Does your cordless tool also have a “corded” option in case you do run out of battery?
  
• Or will you be sidelined until the tool is charged again?

Discount Power Tools?

Buying a name brand tool with a proven track record at a discounted price is one thing; purchasing a lesser-quality tool at a low price is quite another. If you are in the market for discount tools, it's recommended you do a serious search of the consumer report websites on the brands you plan to buy.

• What is the lifespan of these tools compared to the name brands?
  
• Have there been any safety recalls on the brands you plan to buy?
  
• What is the reputation of this brand among consumer reporting websites?
  

If you read report after report of negative experiences associated with the brands you plan to purchase, it may be wise to bit the bullet, spend the extra money, knowing your tools are safer and longer-lasting. Never skimp on quality when it comes to power tools. You can check consumerreports.org, my3cents.com, and do a keyword search on Google.com on the phrase "power tool consumer reports".

Circular Saw Safety

One safety evaluation of 1000 woodworking power tool accidents found a whopping 35 percent of the mishaps occurred with circular saws. Of that number, most happened with the safety equipment either having been removed or improperly engaged. Circular saws should always have a blade guard in place, and properly adjusted. For portable circular saws, some are tempted to remove the guard except for the fact that it cannot be set down with the blade still rotating. One good reason to hang on to your portable saw's blade guard is to protect your arm should you lose your balance during the cut. When your arm comes in contact with the guard instead of the blade, you'll be very glad you did not remove that protective piece of metal.

Where To Start With Cordless Tools

Are you unsure where to begin when purchasing that first cordless drill or hoseless nailer? Fortunately, help is available on the Internet. There are plenty of user reviews of cordless tools online. You can check out descriptions of name brands in action for a wide variety of different tools, and probably some you never thought of “going cordless” with. Try a Google search on the phrase “cordless tools reviews” and you’ll get plenty of good results. Don’t settle on a single review, try checking out a variety of different reviews on the particular make and model of cordless tool you need; you’ll get a better perspective of the pros and cons of that model.