Tools

(Manuel & Power)

Whether you are working at a small project or larger project. Power and manual tools are a must for Chasse Building Team members and our Trades. It is imperative that the amount of safety given to much dangerous task is given to the use of tools that can have an equal or more destructive consequences to yourself and others.

CHASSE Building Team Expectations

  1. CHASSE Building Team and subcontractors’ employees using hand and power tools and exposed to the hazard of falling, flying, abrasive, and splashing objects, or exposed to harmful dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases will be provided with the particular personal protective equipment necessary to protect them from the hazard.

  2. CHASSE Building Team will not issue or permit the use of unsafe hand tools.

  1. Wrenches, including adjustable, pipe, end, and socket wrenches will not be used when jaws are sprung to the point that slippage occurs.

  2. Impact tools, such as drift pins, wedges, and chisels, will be kept free of mushroomed heads.

  3. The wooden handles of tools will be kept free of splinters or cracks and will be kept tight in the tool.

Maintenance

  1. All hand and power tools and similar equipment, whether furnished by the employer or the employee, will be maintained in a safe condition.


Guarding

  1. When power operated tools are designed to accommodate guards, they will be equipped with such guards when in use.

  2. Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating or moving parts of equipment will be guarded if such parts are exposed to contact by employees or otherwise create a hazard.

Types of Guarding

  1. One or more methods of machine guarding will be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are - barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.

  2. The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, will be guarded. The guarding device will be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, will be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.

Examples

Guard on Grinder

Guard on Circular Saw

Guards on Concrete & Masonry Saw

Guards on Equipment


Pneumatic Power Tools

  1. Pneumatic power tools will be secured to the hose or whip by some positive means to prevent the tool from becoming accidentally disconnected.

  2. Safety clips or retainers will be securely installed and maintained on pneumatic impact (percussion) tools to prevent attachments from being accidentally expelled.

  3. All pneumatically driven nailers, staplers, and other similar equipment provided with automatic fastener feed, which operate at more than 100 p.s.i. pressure at the tool will have a safety device on the muzzle to prevent the tool from ejecting fasteners, unless the muzzle is in contact with the work surface.

  4. Compressed air will not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 psi and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.

Powder Actuated Tools

  1. Only CHASSE Building Team employees who have been trained in the operation of the particular tool in use will be allowed to operate a powder-actuated tool.

  2. Powder actuated tools will not be loaded until just prior to the intended firing time. Neither loaded nor empty tools are to be pointed at any employees. Hands will be kept clear of the open barrel end. Loaded tools shall not be left unattended.

Saws & Abrasive Wheels

  1. Portable abrasive wheels used for internal grinding will be provided with safety flanges (protection flanges)

    1. When wheels 2 inches or less in diameter which are securely mounted on the end of a steel mandrel are used;

    2. If the wheel is entirely within the work being ground while in use.

  2. All portable, power-driven circular saws will be equipped with guards above and below the base plate or shoe. The upper guard will cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc required to permit the base to be tilted for bevel cuts. The lower guard will cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc required to allow proper retraction and contact with the work. When the tool is withdrawn from the work, the lower guard will automatically and instantly return to the covering position.

  3. Radial saws will have an upper hood that will completely enclose the upper portion of the blade down to a point that will include the end of the saw arbor. The upper hood will be constructed in such a manner and of such material that it will protect the operator from flying splinters, broken saw teeth, etc., and will defect sawdust away from the operator. The sides of the lower exposed portion of the blade will be guarded to the full diameter of the blade by a device that will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock Construction Safety & Health Management Guidelines 29 Subpart I - Tools, Hand & Power and remain in contact with stock being cut to give maximum protection possible for the operation being performed.

  4. Each circular crosscut table saw will be guarded by a hood.

Jacks

The manufacturer’s rated capacity shall be legibly marked on all jacks and shall not be exceeded.

Electric Power Tools

  1. Electric power operated tools will either be the approved double-insulated type or grounded.

  2. The use of electric cords for hoisting or lowering tools will not be permitted.

Class 1 - Grounded

Class 2 - Double Insulated

Class 3 - Low Voltage Separated