Safe Tool Handling Techniques

Our ability to create and use tools is one of the abilities that separates us from the rest of the animals on the planet. We decide we want something, we figure out how to make it, and then we create the tools we need to get the job done. It has been that way since the caveman days, and as our species has evolved, the only change is the complexity and efficiency of the tools we use. Unfortunately, as humans, we are often clumsy, inattentive and lazy, which can turn the tools we hold in our hand into instruments of pain.

Safety First

When you pick up any tool, one of the first thoughts that goes through your mind should be how to use that tool safely. Every tool, no matter how innocuous or innocent-looking, can cause injuries if not used properly. While many of the following tool safety tips may seem obvious to you, a little refresher in the basics is a good way to avoid hurting yourself or anyone else that may be around.

1) Keep your tools properly maintained, and if the tool is damaged or excessively worn, don't use it. Screwdrivers with blunted tips can easily slip out of the slot and cause an injury to your off hand. Dull blades on cutting tools and loose or a worn grip on a hand tool can all end up putting you in harm's way.

2) Always wear eye protection. There is no part of your body that is more easily damaged than your eyes, and no part of your body is harder to medically repair. Safety goggles are inexpensive, so why would you take that chance?

3) Always make sure that the ground you stand on is dry and secure. When you use a tool, you apply physical pressure or torque in one form or another, and if you're standing on a wet surface or one with loose dirt or sand, it becomes too easy to lose your balance.

4) Always keep your tools properly stored away and your work area free from clutter. A messy work area is far more likely to cause an accident than a neat and organized work space.

5) Watch out for fatigue when performing repetitive tasks with a tool. The more tired your muscles are, the less control you have, and the less control you have, the greater the chance of you getting a look at your own blood.

Tools are great, and having the opposable thumbs necessary to use them is even better. By practicing safe tool handling techniques at all times, you can comfortably build and fix things to your heart's content without ever needing to stop for a bandage, ice pack or trip to the emergency room!