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THE SAFE USE OF PORTABLE POWER OPERATED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Published: 7 August 2023
Adherence to safety guidelines for portable power tools onboard ships is often neglected and this can result in injuries to the eyes, chest, and hands. Unfortunately, some of these injuries have been fatal, despite being avoidable through appropriate precautions during routine maintenance operations involving power tools.
The main issues identified are the removal of safety sleeves from needle scalers, the removal of safety guards, or the ineffective modification of safety guards. Individuals have also been tampering with or bypassing safety cut-out devices on tools, using methods like wiring, taping or other means. Electric tools similarly suffer from poor general maintenance, including wiring faults.
To reduce incidents occurring from the incorrect use of grinders and other power tools, the Club have compiled the following recommendations, which are not to be considered exhaustive:
- Prior to each use, all tools should undergo daily inspection and safety checks
- Safety guards should never be modified or removed from any tool
- Before operating each tool, ensure that safety cut-out devices are functional
- Test and visually inspect the wiring and overall condition of electrical tools to ensure safety
- All users must be equipped with and wear appropriate face shields, eye protection, hearing protection and the correct type of safety gloves when using any power tool onboard
- Provide comprehensive training on the safe use of tools to all personnel and conduct pre-work risk assessments
- Where power supply wires pass through doorways, the doors should be secured open
- During temporary interruptions to work, equipment should be isolated from power sources and left safely or stowed away correctly
- Seafarers should be advised not to use high-speed rotating tools for more than 30 minutes without a break unless the risk assessment indicates a shorter period of use
- Ensure that the right disc is being used for the right material and at the correct speed- discs come with a max rotations per minute (RPM), this should not be exceeded
- Discs on grinders should be changed when they are worn to prevent kickback
- Install chain linkages or comparable mechanisms between hose sections to avoid pneumatic hose breakage and subsequent hose whiplash. Safety valves that shut off the lines can also be used
- Tool accessories (drill bits, discs etc) should be properly secured in the tool.
The above should be considered as part of a detailed risk assessment carried out prior to the start of any work using any power tools on board.
For further information, please do not hesitate to email lossprevention@tindallriley.com.