Potential Hazards

The following are examples of tool-related injuries:

• Fractures from belts and pulleys and hand tools.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning from internal combustion engines.
• Embolism from compressed air.
• Falls from climbing while holding tools.
• Cuts, punctures, abrasions, and amputations from grinders, saws, hand tools, and powder-actuated fasteners. Also see Hand and Body Protection.
• 
  Eye Injuries from grinders, saws, and chisels. Also see Eye and Face Protection.
• Hearing loss from noise. Also see Hearing Protection.
• Inhalation of toxic materials, dust. Also see Respiratory Protection.
• Repetitive motion injuries from improper positioning or use of tools.

Requirements and Example Solutions

• Workers must have both hands free while climbing or descending. [29 CFR 1915.131(a)]
• When air tools of the reciprocating type (such as chipping hammer and riveting gun) are not in use, the dies and tools must be removed. [29 CFR 1915.131(b)]
• Circular saws must be properly guarded. [29 CFR 1915.131(c)]
• The moving parts of machinery on dry dock (for example, pumps, winches, and compressors) must be guarded. [29 CFR 1915.131(d)]
• Extension hoses (whips) to pneumatic tools must be positively secured (for example, with pins or wires, clamps). [29 CFR 1915.131(e)]
• 
  Moving parts of drive mechanisms, such as gearing and belting on large portable tools (for example, abrasive blast hoppers, pumps, compressors, saws, and blowers) must be adequately guarded. [29 CFR 1915.131(f)]
• Compressed air manifolds and headers must be marked "air". [29 CFR 1915.131(g)]
• Compressed air hose must be examined before use. Visibly damaged and unsafe hose must not be used. [29 CFR 1915.131(h)]

Potential Hazard

Damaged or defective electrical hand tools can cause burns, electric shock, and electrocution. Using tools without "deadman" switches may cause a worker to become entangled in the tool, potentially exposing the worker to cuts, amputations, and fractures.

Requirements and Example Solutions

• Portable electrical tools must be properly grounded, unless they are approved double insulated tools. [29 CFR 1915.132(a)]
• Grounding circuits must be checked. [29 CFR 1915.132(b)]
• Portable hand held tools must be equipped with a "deadman" switch. [29 CFR 1915.132(c)]
• Worn or frayed electric cables must not be used. [29 CFR 1915.132(d)]
• 
  The officer in charge of the vessel must be notified to ensure electrical compatibility with the vessel's electrical system and the tool being used. [29 CFR 1915.132(e)]

Potential Hazards

Hazards from the use of hand tools include:

• Cuts
• Punctures
• Fractures
• Eye injuries. Also see Eye and Face Protection.

Requirements and Example Solutions

• Unsafe hand tools must not be used. [29 CFR 1915.133(a)]
• Wrenches must not be used when damage causes slippage to occur. [29 CFR 1915.133(b)]
• Impact tools, such as drift pins, wedges, and chisels, must be kept free of mushroomed heads. [29 CFR 1915.133(c)]
• Wooden handles of tools must be kept free of splinters or cracks and must be kept tight in the tool. [29 CFR 1915.133(d)]

Potential Hazards

• Cuts and amputations from grinders
• Fractures from belts and pulleys and hand tools
• Eye injuries from grinders
• Punctures from work piece or debris when using hand tools
• Hearing loss from noise
• Inhalation of toxic materials, dust
• Embolism from compressed air
• Struck by fragments from exploding grinding wheels

Requirements and Example Solutions

• Floor stand and bench mounted abrasive wheel grinders must be properly guarded and equipped with properly adjusted (for example, not to exceed 1/8 inch) work rests. [29 CFR 1915.134(a) and (b)]
• Handheld grinders used for external use must be protected and have safety guards with the following exceptions: [29 CFR 1915.134(c)]
  • When the work location makes it impossible to use a guard, a wheel equipped with safety flanges must be used. [29 CFR 1915.134(c)(1) and (f)]
  • Wheels less than 2 inches in diameter. [29 CFR 1915.134(c)(2)]
• 
  Handheld grinders used for internal grinding must be protected and have safety flanges with the following exceptions: [29 CFR 1915.134(d) and (f)]
  • Wheels less than 2 inches in diameter. [29 CFR 1915.134(d)(1)]
  • When the wheel is entirely within the work (such as grinding inside of a pipe). [29 CFR 1915.134(d)(2)]
• Safety guards are required to: [29 CFR 1915.134(e) and 29 CFR 1910.243(c)(3), See Figure P-4.]
  • be properly aligned,
  • be of sufficient strength, and
  • have a maximum opening of 180 degrees.
• 
  Abrasive wheels must be closely inspected and ring tested before mounting. [29 CFR 1915.134(g)]
• Grinding wheels must fit freely on the spindle and the spindle nut must not be over-tightened. [29 CFR 1915.134(h)]
• Power supply must be sufficient to maintain the rated spindle speed. Rated maximum speed of the abrasive wheel must not be exceeded. [29 CFR 1915.134(i)]
• Workers using abrasive wheels must be provided with eye and face protection. [29 CFR 1915.134(j)] Also see, Eye and Face Protection.
• Abrasive wheels must be flat (for example, properly dressed) and free of foreign matter (such as copper, aluminum, and bronze residue). [29 CFR 1910.215(d)(3) and 29 CFR 1910.243(c)(5)(iii)]

Potential Hazards

• Eye injuries. Also see Eye and Face Protection.
• Punctures or impalement from the fastener.
• Hearing loss from noise. Also see Hearing Protection.

Requirements and Example Solutions

• Powder-actuated fastening tools must be tested daily before operations and removed from service if found defective. [29 CFR 1915.135(b)(1)]
• Powder actuated fastening tools must not be used in explosive or flammable atmosphere. [29 CFR 1915.135(b)(2)]
• All tools must be used with appropriate guards (for example, shield, muzzle guard). [29 CFR 1915.135(b)(3)]
• Fasteners must not be driven into very hard or brittle materials (such as cast iron, glazed tile, surface hardened steel, glass block, face brick, or hollow tile). [29 CFR 1915.135(b)(4)]
• Fasteners must not pass completely through the material and backing, or be driven to close to the edge, creating a projectile hazard. [29 CFR 1915.135(b)(5) and (b)(6)]
• Fasteners must not be driven through existing holes unless a positive guide is used to secure accurate alignment. [29 CFR 1915.135(b)(7)]
• Do not drive a fastener into a spalled area caused by an unsatisfactory fastening. [29 CFR 1915.135(b)(8)]
• Workers using powder-actuated fastening tools must be protected by personal protective equipment. [29 CFR 1915.135(b)(9)] Also see PPE Selection.
• Workers must be thoroughly trained by a competent person (not the Shipyard Competent Person) before using powder-actuated fastening tools. [29 CFR 1915.135(c)]

Potential Hazard

Use of internal combustion engines in confined or enclosed spaces may expose workers to toxic gases (such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, diesel exhaust).

Requirements and Example Solutions

• Exhaust from internal combustion engines used in a fixed position below decks, must be vented into the open air and not recirculated back into the vessel. [29 CFR 1915.136(a)]
• All exhaust line joints and connections must be checked and free from leaks. [29 CFR 1915.136(b)]
• Testing for carbon monoxide is required when internal combustion engines exhaust into the atmosphere below decks. Testing must be performed by the Shipyard Competent Person (SCP). Workers must be removed and the space ventilated when safe limits are exceeded. [29 CFR 1915.136(c)]