Playing it Safe with Cutting Tools

Cutting tools are an important part of the toolkit at many shops, so it’s essential for everyone using them to know what they’re doing, both to get the job done effectively and to keep themselves and everyone around them safe.

Today, we’re going to look at the top three violations reportable to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration related to cutting tools.

1. Not wearing safety glasses and gloves

This one is simple. If you have metal shavings or hot chips going everywhere or a drill bit breaks, not wearing proper personal protective equipment can lead to serious or even tragic outcomes.

2. Improper use

Enlarging a hole with a drill bit can cause premature wear and drill breakage. With breakage, you lose control very quickly. Or a drill can catch and spin itself around, causing damage and maybe even breaking your hand.

Also, always make sure you are using the correct tool for the job. If you need to enlarge a hole, don’t use a drill bit, use a reamer. Make sure any saw or reciprocating blades you are using are the correct ones for your application. It’s safer, and you’ll get a better result.

3. Not clamping the workpiece properly

Failure to secure the workpiece can lead to the workpiece slipping or even becoming a projectile. As it moves, you could slip and cut your leg, hand or other body part.

In addition to those big three, the safety professionals at Kimball Midwest have gathered these other important dos and don’ts:

Do

• Keep the floors as clean and dry as possible to avoid slipping.
• Wear hearing protection, especially when using an air drill motor.
• Make sure your chuck is balanced and your drill bit is true in the chuck. When you spin the drill motor, the drill bit should not wobble.
• Apply only enough pressure so the drill bit will cut. Ease up as the drill bit breaks through the material.
• Use a sharp drill bit; do not try to force a dull drill bit.
• Use cutting tool coolants or lubricant when cutting metal.
• Hold the drill motor securely through the entire drilling process.

Don’t

• Drill with one hand while holding the material with the other.
• Use a bent drill bit.
• Attempt to free a jammed drill bit by starting and stopping the drill. Instead, unplug the drill and then remove the drill bit from the work piece.
• Reach under or around stock that is being drilled.
• Overreach – always keep proper footing and balance.

Cutting tools are powerful. Ensuring your team is using them safely will keep your tools and your team on task.

If you need help making sure your shop is using cutting tools correctly and has the right tools for the job, ask your Kimball Midwest sales representative today. If you don’t have a rep, we can point you in the right direction: