Power Tool Safety
Introduction
Because power tools are so common in construction, workers are constantly exposed to a variety of hazards. The very tool that makes their job easy and efficient may one day be the cause of a tragic accident. It is good to be reminded of good-sense safety practices.
Which Power Tools Cause the Most Hand Injuries?
Considering how often they are used at construction sites, powered hand tools cause relatively few hand injuries in the industry. In 2012, hand injury claims amounted to only about 4.5 percent of all injury claims accepted for the industry as a whole.
It should not come as too much of a surprise that saws, drills, and nail guns account for most of the injuries (67 percent).
Below is a short list of the most dangerous power tools based on the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) injury records:
- Nail guns: These send over 37,000 workers to the emergency room each year.
- Chain saws: A close second to nail guns at over 36,000 visits each year.
- Table saws: More than 29,000 serious injuries a year.
- Circular saws: Over 10,000 visits to the ER each year.
- Power drills: More than 5,000 serious injuries annually.
- Air Compressors: Yes, air compressors are responsible for 2,400 injuries a year.
The list above varies depending on who ask, but rest assured most power tools send hundreds to thousands of workers to the emergency room each year.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-1. The most dangerous types of power tools based on NIOSH injury records are _____.
You forgot to answer the question!