Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC
12
Months
of Safety
March 2023
Power Tool Safety

Handheld power tools can cause serious injuries for workers in the manufacturing sector. Tools that fall into this category includes portable circular saws, routers, hand grinders, reciprocating saws, and jigsaws. These tools are very versatile, and as a result, are frequently used in tight quarters, on ladders, and for shaping and sizing small pieces where the work piece is held by hand. Unfortunately, with the high cutter speed, a slip or kickback can cause serious injuries to body parts.

Videos & Webinars
In this Ask Me Anything session, Safety Advisor Lorne Davies will review the basics of power tool safety, help people better understand some common risks, and to answer your questions about power tool safety.
Power Tool Safety Resources and Tools
Toolbox Talk
In the manufacturing sector, many serious injuries are the result of hand held power tools. The list includes portable circular saws, routers, hand grinders, reciprocating saws and jig saws. These tools are very versatile and as a result are frequently used in tight quarters, on ladders, and for shaping and sizing small pieces where the […]
Toolbox Talk
An angle grinder is a device with a rotating abrasive disc, used to grind, polish, or cut metal and other materials depending on the disc installed. They are typically used during metal fabrication and construction-type of work.
Typical accidents involving grinders have included fingers caught in the machine’s components and eye and face injuries due to wheel disintegration, missing guards, or misadjusted parts. Using bench grinders correctly can prevent these serious injuries and fires.
Toolbox Talk
A drill press is a machine for drilling holes, set on a fixed stand. Drill presses are generally electrically powered and can be either hardwired into the electrical circuit or plugged into an electrical outlet.
Toolbox Talk
A hand drill is a tool used for making holes or driving fasteners. It can be either hand-powered or more commonly today powered by either electricity or air. It is very portable and can come in a wide range of sizes. This toolbox talk topic will deal with powered hand drills that are electrically powered.
Toolbox Talk
A saw is a tool with a blade used for cutting material such as wood, metal, floor tiles, etc. They can be either manually operated (e.g., hack saw) or power operated using electricity or compressed air (e.g., circular saw). This toolbox talk will deal with powered saws.