Tool Maintenance

Regular tool maintenance is a work practice that helps keep workers safe while handling various power tools that get worn down over time.

Description:

Regular tool maintenance is a work practice that can help ensure the safety of workers and the longevity of the tools.

In order to keep workers safe and tools operating, routine tool maintenance should be performed. This routine maintenance should include tool inspection, cleaning, oiling, sharpening, and minor repairs if needed. 

The first step should always be a detailed inspection of the tool, checking to see that power cords are in good working order. Items that should be inspected on the cord include the three prongs on the plug to ensure that they are not bent or missing; also make sure there are no nicks, cuts, or frays down the length of the cord. Second, make sure that there is no debris covering fan vents or around moving parts. Debris can overheat the motor and substantially shorten the life of the tool. 
Third, make sure that the gears rotate smoothly, and are well lubricated if applicable. Gears that are loose increase tool vibration and greatly reduce the longevity of the tool.  Fourth, make sure that all tool attachments are in good working order and sharpened. Attachments may include blades, drills, chisels, and/or grinding wheels. If attachments are dull, operators must apply greater amounts of force to perform work.  Fifth, check to see that all screws and bolts are tight, and have not loosened during tool operation. Sixth, make sure that all safety features are in place before operation. Possible deficiencies with safety features may include blade guards that help protect the operator. If items in need of correction are found during inspections, have the tool repaired before operating.
 

Risks Addressed:

Stressful hand and wrist activity and hand-arm vibration can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as muscle strains; tendonitis, which is inflammation of elbow and wrist tendons; or carpal tunnel syndrome, which is compression of a wrist nerve, resulting in finger numbness and loss of hand strength. 
 

Whole body vibration can cause low back disorders, such as muscle strain or a disc herniation (“slipped disc”), which is bulging of disc material possibly pressing on the spinal cord or nerves that go into the leg.  

Research has shown that regular tool maintenance can help reduce stressful hand and wrist activity, hand-arm vibration, and whole-body vibration as power tools get worn down from use. 

How Risks are Reduced:

 

Hand-arm vibration as well as stressful hand and wrist activities can be greatly reduced by performing routine tool maintenance. Clean tools produce less friction resulting in a smaller amount vibration transferred to the operator. In addition to cleaning the tool, attachments needs to be sharp so that they easily cut, drill, chop, and or grind through material reducing the amount of force required by the operator to complete the task. 

 

Studies have shown that hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) occurs in people exposed to hand-arm vibration. However, there is not specific research to demonstrate the effect of performing tool maintenance preventing HAVS. Health and safety experts believe that any reduction in exposure to hand-arm vibration could be beneficial in preventing new cases of HAVS.
 

Effects on Productivity:

Routine tool maintenance may increase productivity on the job site.

Additional Considerations:

 

Always check with the owner’s manual before performing tool maintenance to be sure that repairs will not void a tool’s warranty.

Contributors:

Dan Anton, PT, PhD, ATC and Michael Milanoski, SPT – Eastern Washington University

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