Am I Using This Right?

In maintenance, repair and operations, the misuse of a product can cause failure. This can lead to downtime, waste and expense, which are things you never want to deal with in your shop.

While there might be several uses or applications for a product, the Kimball Midwest Product Line and Quality Assurance departments have seen many cases of misuse and want to share some best practices:

Respirator Masks

Many of you know you should wear a respirator mask when dealing with strong chemicals (such as paint) or power tools that produce a lot of dust. This helps prevents harmful chemicals, particles and dust from entering and damaging your lungs. But just because someone is wearing a mask does not mean they are wearing it properly or regularly change out the filters after reaching the permissible exposure limit.

For a respirator mask to work effectively to protect your lungs, the mask should be fully sealed to the bare skin around your face. Most masks Kimball Midwest supplies are equipped with adjustable straps to tighten around the head and face. Head sizes can vary, so make sure every time you or a coworker puts on a mask, they adjust the mask to fit accordingly for their safety. Additionally, the filter within the mask won’t last forever. Kimball Midwest has many filters for the best protection.

Pneumatic Tools

For pneumatic tools, it’s a common mistake to just use the air pressure that the shop always runs. Well, this might not be the best pressure to run with all tools. To ensure the pressure works for your pneumatic tools and they are used in the safest way possible, pay attention to the specifications of each tool.

For example, the Heavy Duty Pneumatic Rivet Gun has an operating pressure of 90-120 PSI. Failure to stay within this range could result in the impact gun not working efficiently or becoming a safety hazard in the workplace. Additionally, using an air tool lubricant will keep the pneumatic tools running longer and with higher levels of performance. Pairing the lubricant and correct amount of operating pressure will result in optimal performance.

Drill Bits

The Product Line and Quality Assurance departments also pointed out the common misuse of drill bits in widening holes. Why widen holes with a drill bit? That’s what a reamer is for! Kimball Midwest’s selection of reamers makes metalworking easier, safer and more efficient. Drill bits are not meant for widening holes, and with a reamer you can avoid the safety hazards of using a bit that could break. Reamers come in various sizes for all your shop’s needs.

For the misuse of products to stop, it could be as simple as purchasing new mask filters or using a drill bit to create a hole and a reamer to enlarge it. In the end, there will be lower probability of tool failure or injury! Those in the workplace will be safer, and your team will run more efficiently.

Kimball Midwest will continue to help provide educational material for the safety and efficiency of your shop. Stay tuned for more highlights on industrial products where common issues and misuses are found. If you found these highlights are relevant to your shop, reach out to your rep today to help avoid the misuse of products. If you don’t have a rep, we can help you