Hand Tool Safety: General

Keep all hand tools clean and in good working condition. Remove from use any tools that are damaged or unsafe and notify your supervisor.
Do not continue to work if your safety glasses become fogged. Stop work and clean the glasses until the lenses are clear and defogged.
Use tied-off containers to keep tools from falling from scaffolds and other elevated work platforms.
Carry all sharp tools in a sheath or holster.
Tag worn, damaged or defective tools “Out of Service” and do not use them.
Do not use a tool if its handle has splinters, burrs, cracks, or splits, or if the head of the tool is loose.
Do not use impact tools, such as hammers, chisels, punches, or steel stakes that have mushroomed heads.
When handing a tool to another person, direct sharp points and cutting edges away from yourself and the other person.
When using knives, shears or other cutting tools, cut in a direction away from your body.
Use alternate cutting tools whenever possible.
Do not chop at heights above your head when you are working with a hand axe.
Do not carry sharp or pointed hand tools such as screwdrivers, scribes, aviation snips, scrapers, chisels, or files in your pocket unless the tool, or your pocket, is sheathed.
Do not perform makeshift repairs to tools.
Do not use “cheaters” on pipe wrenches, wrenches, load binders or “boomers”.
Do not carry tools in your hand when you are climbing. Carry tools in tool belts or hoist the tools to the work area using a hand line.
Do not throw tools from one location to another, from one employee to another, or from scaffolds or other elevated platforms.
Transport hand tools only in toolboxes or tool belts. Do not carry tools in your clothing.
Do not carry pins, screwdrivers or other sharp tools in your shirt pocket when working at a height and utilizing a full body harness fall protection system, or when using a full body boatswain’s chair to be hoisted.
Select/purchase ergonomically-designed hand tools.