Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Home Maintenance

Keep these 4 hand tool safety tips in mind as you work around the house

By

Your hand tools certainly make your life easier. Quality tools are durable, easier on your hands, and get the job done quickly. Injuries, however, are unfortunately common, and according to OSHA, hand tool mishaps make up 8 percent of all workplace injuries. Ensuring good working order of your tools, donning personal protective equipment, and storing tools properly will keep you safe while you work. To preserve all your fingers and toes, review these hand tool safety tips and keep them in mind while you work.

tools on a table
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Common hand tool injuries

  • Cuts, scrapes, and abrasions. Basically, any hand tool can cut you with enough force, but the most common tools that cause these injuries are screwdrivers, saws, and chisels.
  • Injuries from repetitive movements. Carpal tunnel is the most common condition caused by repeated movements, but other injuries in the shoulders, knees, or back are also a risk when you’re hunched over, repeating a task over and over again.
  • Bruises and bone breaks. Most common with hammers and vices, a slipped hand or foot can land you in a cast.
  • Eye injuries. Many tools create dust and debris which can fly into your eye and cause serious injuries.
Pegboard with tools
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hand tool safety tips

To avoid those common hand tool-related injuries, practice these four basic safety precautions, even when using even the simplest of tools for the simplest of jobs.

Recommended Videos

Inspect your tools regularly

The condition of your tools is just as important as using them properly. Rusted, corroded, broken, or dull items can easily break or slip, increasing your risk of injury. Before you use any hand tool, check that it is in good working condition by inspecting it for damages, dulled or chipped blades, and evidence of rust or corrosion.

Related

Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

Before launching into your latest DIY project, make sure your body is properly protected properly for the job at hand.

  • Protect your eyes with safety goggles or a safety shield, depending on the amount of debris you expect to encounter.
  • Protect your hands with work gloves that prevent common injuries like bruises, cuts, or even chemical burns.
  • Protect your feet with thick, complete-coverage shoes or steel-toed boots. Never perform work barefoot or in open-toed shoes.
  • Protect your lungs with a dust mask or respirator if sawdust or other harmful dust will be in the air as you work.

Use the proper tool and technique

Each hand tool serves a specific purpose, so using the wrong one can lead to injuries. A wrench is not designed to be used as a hammer, and a screwdriver is not designed to be used as a chisel. Using a tool improperly could cause it to slip, break, or damage the material you’re working with, and can absolutely lead to injury.

Additionally, make sure to use the proper technique as outlined by the manufacturer and required by the project. When using chisels, knives, or saws, always cut away from yourself so, if it slips, it doesn’t come into contact with your body. Also, make sure your grip and footing are placed properly, especially with larger tools.

Maintain and store your tools properly

Your tools are safest when they are in good condition, and their working condition depends on proper maintenance and storage. To keep them in tip-top shape, clean your tools after every use, sharpen them if needed, and repair any damages before using them again. It’s best to store tools in a clean, dry place and in their original cases if possible. If not, invest in a high-quality toolbox that’s designed to protect your tools from humidity. We also recommend lining any storage drawers or toolboxes with moisture-reducing pads to reduce the risk of rust and corrosion. If you’re hanging your tools, be sure they are hung vertically with the heaviest point on the bottom so they’re less likely to fall down and cause injuries.

Hand tools are necessary for any homeowner, often coming in handy for projects both big and small. If you work with hand tools often, it’s vital that you follow strict safety precautions to avoid injuries while you work. Inspecting and caring for your tools properly, using them appropriately, and wearing the right PPE will make sure you complete your projects with all your limbs intact.

Editors' Recommendations

Veronica Sparks
Veronica Sparks
Contributor
Veronica Sparks is a writer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who loves writing about gardening, home décor, and DIY life. She’s…
9 great smart home apps that will make you want an Apple Watch this Christmas
smart home apps for apple watch shutterstock 315991190

There's nothing that makes life easier than home automation, and that's why smart homes are on the rise. To make things more accessible, many smart home apps can now be accessed on an Apple Watch. Maybe you only need an app for a single smart appliance, like your smart home security system, smart lighting, or smart thermostat, or perhaps you have a whole smart home you'd like to control from one app. Either way, we have you covered with the best smart home apps you can access with a touch of the wrist.

Best security smart home apps
Some of the most common smart home devices are those that secure the home. Whether you want to access your home security app for your video doorbell, smart lock, or nanny cam, these apps can give you that freedom.
August Home
August Home gives you control of your front door, anywhere you are. With the app on your watch, you can lock and unlock the door, give keyless entry to loved ones, view activity reports of who is accessing your home, and more. It's compatible with August Smart Lock, August Smart Keypad, August Doorbell, and many other smart lock products. You can also integrate it into your smart home systems like Apple HomeKit.
Home+ Security
With Home+ Security, you can manage your entire home security system from your Apple Watch. In addition to seeing who's at your front door through the video doorbell, the app notifies you of activity through your door and window sensors. It can even alert you of fire and carbon monoxide warnings in your home, all right on your wrist.
Best lighting smart home apps
Smart lighting is incredibly convenient in the world of smart homes. Who wouldn't want to come home to a well-lit house or turn off the bedroom light without getting out of bed? With these smart lighting apps, you can now access your smart lighting from your wrist without getting up or searching for your phone.
LIFX
With the LIFX lighting app, you can control a whole house of smart lights or even just one from your Apple Watch. The app also allows you to manage groups of lights, set schedules, and even play with different colored lighting for whatever mood you're in.
Best smart thermostat apps
Since energy costs are among the largest bills for homeowners, smart thermostats are popular since they help conserve energy while you're away or sleeping. These smart thermostat apps allow you to access your home's HVAC system from your Apple Watch.
ecobee
Ecobee's Apple Watch app controls compatible lighting and security devices in addition to your smart thermostat. If you only have the thermostat, though, you can manually adjust the room's temperature and set comfort schedules to automatically adjust when you're headed home for the day.
Honeywell
The great thing about Honeywell is that you can schedule thermostat adjustments based on your routine, and it has geofencing technology. This means that if you come home or leave unexpectedly, it will still adjust the temperature so you can save on energy costs.

Read more
Should you invest in a video doorbell to keep packages safe?
should you get a video doorbell shutterstock 1415149067

Online shopping has been steadily rising over the past several years, a trend that was accelerated by the pandemic. This means that package delivery, particularly during holiday seasons, is an everyday occurrence for many consumers. Since package deliveries increased by 37% in 2020 compared to 2019, it was inevitable that instances of package theft would also increase. To combat theft, many shoppers have invested in porch security measures, and we're going to discuss whether a video doorbell is a good investment for you.

The risks of online shopping
While it's convenient, online shopping involves a good amount of risk on the buyer's part. Not only does any online purchase risk higher levels of dissatisfaction with the product, but there are also security risks. Aside from the risk of your credit card information being stolen, hacked, or misused, package theft is the most common risk associated with online shopping.

Read more
These are the home automation features the experts say keep your house secure
house with exterior lighting at dusk

Digital communication continues to revolutionize the way we live. Nearly all digital home goods are available with Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity, and, more often than not, they have accompanying mobile apps to control them. Look no further than current trends in home automation to see how technology empowers us to control all the tech in our lives from a single device. To those with busy lives to keep in control, home automation offers a powerful key. But are these high-tech, expensive systems worth it? 

To answer this question and many more, Adolfo Dolan, project engineer with Automated Environments shared his thoughts regarding some of the most popular automated home product categories.

Read more