A variety of portable power and hand tools (such as grinders, drills,
saws, and wrenches) are used throughout shipyard employment.
Improper use or lack of maintenance can result in worker injuries.
The following sections provide information for the safe use of tools:
Review
General
Precautions as well as the
PPE:
General Shipyard Worker before proceeding with the specific tools.
Note: Confined space entry is one of the leading
hazards associated with barge cleaning. Review the
Ship Repair: Confined/Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres
chapter for information on how to protect workers from this hazard.
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General Precautions |
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. [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. [1915.131(b)]
- Circular saws must be properly guarded. [1915.131(c)]
- The moving parts of machinery on dry dock (for example, pumps, winches,
and compressors) must be guarded. [1915.131(d)]
- Extension hoses (whips) to pneumatic tools must be positively secured
(for example, with pins or wires, clamps). [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. [1915.131(f)]
- Compressed air manifolds and headers must be marked "air".
[1915.131(g)]
- Compressed air hose must be examined before use.
Visibly damaged and unsafe hose must not be used. [1915.131(h)]
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Figure 1: Improper practice: Worker carrying tools in a tool
bag while climbing improperly positioned ladder.
Figure 2: Worker grinding painted metal may be exposed to inhalation hazards.
Figure 3: Moving parts of machinery equipment must be guarded. Image showing circular saw
with guard in red.
Figure 4: Properly guarded blower. |
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Maritime Labor/Industry Recommendations
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- Ensure that the air supply is shut-off
when changing pneumatic powered tools.
- Refer to the shipyard ergonomic guidelines for proper
positioning and use of tools.
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Portable Electrical Tools |
Potential Hazards:
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. [1915.132(a)]
- Grounding circuits must be checked. [1915.132(b)]
- Portable hand held tools must be equipped with a "deadman"
switch. [1915.132(c)]
- Worn or frayed electric cables must not be used. [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. [1915.132(e)]
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Figure 5: Improper practice: Damaged electrical cable.
Figure 6: Worker using grinder with deadman control.
Figure 7: Grounding circuits for portable electric tools and temporary lights must be checked. |
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Maritime Labor/Industry Recommendations
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- Insulating materials (such as mats and gloves) should be periodically
tested or inspected.
- All electrical tools or equipment should undergo a visual inspection
prior to use.
- All portable electric hand tools and temporary lighting systems
should utilize Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI).
- Electrical tools and equipment should correspond with the
requirements of the job.
- Electrical equipment and tools should be used with proper circuit
protection for the voltage and amperage used.
- Only qualified electricians should attempt repair of electrical
tools and equipment in use.
- A Ground Assurance Program should be in place for all electrical
tools and equipment used including:
- Records of tools inspected and repaired.
- Records of electrical boxes inspected and repaired.
- Records of electrical extension cords inspected and repaired.
- Recall of records of the above.
- The requirements of the Ground Assurance Program should be performed
on a regular basis.
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Hand Tools |
Potential Hazards:
Hazards from the use of hand tools include:
Requirements and Example Solutions:
- Unsafe hand tools must not be used. [1915.133(a)]
- Wrenches must not be used when damage causes slippage to occur. [1915.133(b)]
- Impact tools, such as drift pins, wedges, and chisels, must be kept
free of mushroomed heads. [1915.133(c)]
- Wooden handles of tools must be kept free of splinters or
cracks and must be kept tight in the tool. [1915.133(d)]
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Abrasive Wheels |
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. [1915.134(a)
and
(b)]
- Handheld grinders used for external use must be protected and have
safety guards with the following exceptions: [1915.134(c)]
- When the work location makes it impossible to use a guard, a
wheel equipped with safety flanges must be used. [1915.134(c)(1)
and
(f)]
- Wheels less than 2 inches in diameter. [1915.134(c)(2)]
- Handheld grinders used for internal grinding must be protected and
have safety flanges with the following exceptions: [1915.134(d)
and
(f)]
- Wheels less than 2 inches in diameter. [1915.134(d)(1)]
- When the wheel is entirely within the work (such as grinding
inside of a pipe). [1915.134(d)(2)]
- Safety guards are required to: [1915.134(e)
and
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. [1915.134(g)]
- Grinding wheels must fit freely on the spindle and the spindle nut
must not be over-tightened. [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. [1915.134(i)]
- Workers using abrasive wheels must be provided with eye and face
protection. [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). [1910.215(d)(3)
and
1910.243(c)(5)(iii)]
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Figure 8: Bench grinder with proper guard and correctly adjusted work rest.
Figure 9: Hand held grinder with guard.
Figure 10: Grinder with guard properly aligned and with maximum opening of 180 degrees.
Figure 11: Worker protected by eye and face protection while grinding. |
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Powder-Actuated Fastening Tools |
Potential Hazards:
Requirements and Example Solutions:
- Powder-actuated fastening tools must be tested daily before operations
and removed from service if found defective. [1915.135(b)(1)]
- Powder actuated fastening tools must not be used in explosive or flammable atmosphere.
[1915.135(b)(2)]
- All tools must be used with appropriate guards (for example, shield, muzzle
guard). [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). [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. [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. [1915.135(b)(7)]
- Do not drive a fastener into a spalled area caused by an unsatisfactory fastening.
[1915.135(b)(8)]
- Workers using powder-actuated fastening tools must be protected by personal protective equipment.
[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. [1915.135(c)]
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Figure 12: Worker with proper eye and face protection and ear plugs. |
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Internal Combustion Engines |
Potential Hazards:
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. [1915.136(a)]
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All exhaust line joints and connections must be checked and free from
leaks. [1915.136(b)]
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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. [1915.136(c)]
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Figure 13: Testing for carbon monoxide in space below deck. |
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