How to Safely Use Basic Hand Tools?

Automotive technicians use a variety of hand tools to make car repairs. Misuse and improper maintenance of your hand tools are the leading causes of injury during car repairs. You should be familiar with the safety procedures for using all of your hand tools and what the procedures are to correctly maintain them.




1.All hand tools should be cleaned regularly. Greasy and oily tools make them difficult to handle and pose a significant threat of injury to the technician. Wipe tools clean before and after use.


2.Use hand tools as they are intended to be used. Misusing hand tools can damage the tool and potentially injure the technician. For example, a screw driver should be used only to install and remove screws. Using your screw drivers as pry bars will damage the tool and cause serious injury if it slips during use.


3.Always wear safety goggles that have Z-87 printed on them. Sunglasses and prescription glasses are not safety glasses. Failure to wear safety glasses or face shield allows metal chips or particles to impact your eyes and cause permanent damage.


4.Do not use hardened tools such as pry bars, hardened hammers or punches on hardened metal surfaces such as the engine head. Hardened metal is brittle and can chip or shatter the surface causing puncture or eye damage. Do not use chisels and punches with mushroomed heads because they will shatter into slivers and cause serious injury.


5.Never use a tool that is in poor condition. For example, hammers with cracked or broken handles. Screw drivers should not be uses on a handheld part because the screw driver can slip and injure the hand. Misusing a screw driver in this fashion is a common injury.