Tools and Machines
Tool safety is very important. Do not use any tool or equipment unless you have had "hands-on" training to use it properly. Each tool and piece of equipment is different. Every time you have to use a new tool or machine, request for training.
Tools and equipment have several safety features such as:
Guards to prevent unintentional contact with moving parts equipment with blades, rotary equipment boxes and belts, high voltage electrical components, heated parts and dangerous materials.
Interlock switches to shut off the machine if the guard is not in place, if hands or clothes are caught in a moving part or if the equipment overheats. An example is that you cannot operate a clothes dryer unless the door is closed.
Warning lights, buzzers and bells to warn that it is not safe to operate the tool or equipment. Report the fault to your teacher or supervisor and do not use the equipment unless it is fixed.
General Safety Precautions
Machine Guarding
Machine guards prevent exposure to moving, rotating, electrically charged or hot parts, in-running nip hazards, as well as hazardous materials. Missing or improperly used guards can cause severe cuts, amputation or even death.
Machine guards or barriers are devices fitted on the machinery and equipment to provide protection against:
- direct contact with moving parts,
- mechanical failure,
- electrical failure, and
- human error.
Examples of machine guards include wire cages around fans, blade guards on table and band saws, and covers on drive belts and electrical switch boxes. Machine guards are in place to protect you. A guard is a permanent fixture and should not be tampered with. Machine guards must be used, maintained and repaired only by a qualified person.
In some equipment there is a built-in interlock switch that does not allow the machine to be activated unless the machine guard is in place. Never disable the interlock switch.
Never assume that you know a machine well enough that it can't hurt you. Do not operate any equipment without a machine guard in place. Your hands, clothes or tools can access any of the moving parts, hot spots or high voltage conductors, if the guard is missing. If you think a guard is missing, do not operate the tool. Report the situation to your teacher or supervisor.
Basic Tips for Using Hand Tools
