Power tool safety

Power tool safety all boils down to you. You are the major factor in your own safety. Keep alert and think about what you are doing and you'll be fine. If you feel sick or exhausted have a rest. If you wanna jig about and listen to your iPod, make a choice, one or the other. You should be concentrating on what you are doing when using power tools.

Introduction

I use the term power tool in the sense of anything that runs off an ordinary household power point, usually hand held, able to be carried about easily, but it could also be something heavier like a saw that is more often found in a workshop but could be set up on a temporary bench in a home DIY situation.

Below are a few general notes on power tool safety. All fairly obvious but it never does any harm to restate them. Even small tools like a drill used for a 5 minute DIY job can cause a bit of strife. At the same time, don't let any of the warnings put you off enjoying what can be a very satisfying experience.

• If you happen to pick up a bargain power tool second hand, get an electrician to check and tag it as soon as you can.
• Don't make a habit of lowering a power tool by it's lead from a scaffolding or a ladder etc. Don't swing it by the cord or yank it out of the socket. Sooner or later the wires could work loose and cause a problem.
• USE YOUR PROTECTIVE GEAR. Goggles, gloves, ear muffs, boots etc.
• Use the right tool for the job.
• Read the paperwork that comes with the tool.
• Unplug the cord before changing blades, bits, etc.
• Unplug your tools when you leave the job. Visitors might come by with little kids.
• All power tools have an I.D. plate that gives the RPM - revolutions per minute- of the motor. If your tool is old and the I.D. plate is not readable and you are not sure, find out before you use it.
• Unwind your leads. I you have a long lead, but only need a bit of it, still unwind the lot. Don't leave it in a coil while using it! I can't explain it technically, but I do know that a coil of wire with a current going through it is a basic electrical device, and you don't want one feeding your power tools.
• Keep your clothes neat and tidy, and your hair too, it is possible for loose stuff to get dragged into a moving part.
• Working alone with nobody around at all means you have no backup help in case of an accident. This is a basic safety worry, not just power tool safety. At least keep a cell phone in your pocket. I personally know two guys who had strife on their own and had to wait hours for assistance.

Safety Boxes, ELD, RCD

We are always working with power leads. When I am using power tools, I try to always use an ELD, (earth leakage detector) safety box, or RCD, (residual current device).

There are a few different types but they all are designed to cut off the power supply in a fraction of a second when a fault happens. The one pictured here has one input socket and five output ones. It is rated at 15amps and has a sensitivity of 20 m.A. Even when there is already one in the household supply I still use my portable one as well.

This is my number one back up in case something goes wrong. I check it two or three times every time I plug it in. That is, press the test switch and reset.

Electric tool safety has been greatly improved by the use of these devices. Where I live, all houses built recently have an Earth leakage Detector built into the house switchboard. It is mandatory. ELD's are also mandatory for building site temporary power supplies.

It is mandatory on building sites for all electric power cords and electric power tools, to be checked and tagged by a licensed electrician.

None of us I guess are over fond of government regulation, but these ELD,RCD, earth leakage detector ones make good sense.

Look after your leads and always use your "Jesus Box" (as one of my roofing mates calls it.)The theory of them is simple, if a fault occurs in either the tool you are using or the lead to it, the box will trip out, disconnecting the power in 30 milliseconds or less. A lot quicker than the average circuit breaker.

Power tool safety - Heinman EP12 ELD

Power tool safety - Heinman EP12 ELD

This old dinosaur is one of the first to come on the market, and is still doing the same job I bought it for. It is a Heinman EP12, 15amps rated with a sensitivity of 20 M.A. The warning says TEST UNIT BEFORE ANY TOOL IS CONNECTED. IF UNIT DOES NOT TRIP, A DANGEROUS CONDITION MAY EXIST DUE TO A FAULT IN THE LEADS, SUPPLY OUTLETS, OR THE UNIT ITSELF.

As soon as I plug it in I always press the red test button a few times and reset it to make sure it is in top form. ALWAYS. This particular one has cut out a few times for real. Usually damaged leads or loose wiring in the power tool switch.

On one occasion it kept cutting out when plugged into a faulty circuit in an existing house we were extending. This prompted an electrical check of the whole house and a few other faults were found and corrected. A new ELD was also fitted into the house' main switchboard.

On a few occasions I have had a distinct tingling sensation when screwing off a roof in hot and humid conditions and sweat has run down my hand and around the screwdriver gun. The box did not trip as I thought it should. Not a pleasant experience. If anybody can explain this I'd be glad to hear from you.

Double insulated tools are not protected by an ELD. These are usually plastic bodied small tools with no earth prong. They are safer electrically than a standard tool without ELD protection.

Watch The RPM

Don't EVER dream of putting a tool designed for a slow speed tool into a high speed tool. Like a paint stirrer that should be in an electric drill, into a router. (Don't laugh, I've seen it done), and it was a tradesman, not a DIY-er that did it.

Power tool safety - Friction disk rated at max. 6800 rpm, OK for use as a cutting disk in a grinder.

Power tool safety - Friction disk rated at max. 4200 rpm, for use it slow speed machines only.

Always match the blade, disk, cutter etc. to the tools you are putting it into. Friction disks, grinding wheels, etc usually have warnings on them about the correct mounting and the Max. RPM. for them to be used at. Take heed. If the blade is over revved or wrongly mounted it could shatter. NEVER go over the maximum RPM....... NEVER.

These two disks are just about the same size, both for metal with same centre hole.

One Is rated at Max 6800 RPM and can safely be used in my large angle grinder which has a max RPM of 6600.

The other one has been used in my steel cut off saw. It is rated at 4200 RPM . If I didn't read the label and used it in the grinder by mistake, it could shatter.

I get quite a few leftovers like this when I am cutting say, RHS (rectangular hollow section) that, as the blade wears down, it will not longer cut all the way through in one hit. I am never tempted to use them up in the grinder.

I can and do use them in my large power saw, rated at 4100 RPM, that I have kept aside for cutting metal.

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