Ph.D:Stefan KovacsE-mail: safetyinknowledge@gmail.com

This presentation shows some important aspects regarding the safety and health when working with hammers. The subject are manual hammers- not the mechanical ones. As hammers are one of the most used tools- we found that a presentation regarding hammer safety could be usefull.

A hammer is one of the most common tools in every field of work. Hammers are used extensively on construction sites.

Safety of the components should include:

-hammer s head (Face, neck, claw, cheek) ;

-hammer s handle and grip;

-the link between ;

HAMMER COMPONENT PARTS

RISKS ? Use of any striking tool involves potential risks.

Risks are connected with manipulating the hammer and the effective usage of the hammer.

Every care should be taken to prevent possible personal injury or damage to the tool and the subsequent piece.

Risks could affect:

-the assets nearby;

-the worker;

-the fellow workers;

Glasses are needed to protect the eyes from splinters that could fall and not just that.

Gloves are an efficient hand protection

Complete head protection (including noise)

This worker could hurt himself if the blow is touching his hand.

Make sure you have enough clearance from fellow workers when performing work with a hammer or mallet.

Choose a hammer with a cushioned handle to protect you from vibration, impact and squeezing pressure.

Ensure that you have secure footing and good balance while using a hammer.

Without a secure footing your equilibre would be affected and you could fall following the hammer movement...

EXAMPLE

Imagine that you would use the hammer on a piece of steel in a room full of people that are not constient that you are going to start hammering, part of them doing other things that require attention and focus. EXAMPLE

Use hammers and striking tools only for the purposes for which they were designed.

High quality striking tools are always preferred and usually safer. A well-made hammer looks good and has a solid feel in your hand.

Always grip the hammer near the end of the handle so you have the full length of the handle to provide maximum force to the blow.

You should never use hammer for other purposes. EXAMPLE

Avoid using hammers with sharp edges as they can cut off circulation in your finger after long periods of use.

A hammer handle should always be swung so the face contacts the surface you are hitting squarely. You should never strike from an angle.

When using a hammer to strike another metal tool, such as a punch or chisel, aim the blow or cut away from your body. The tool being struck must be in perfect condition. This means a punchshould never have a mushrooming head, or the handle on a wood chisel should not be cracked.

Hammers with sharp edge could cut other things too. Imagine the damage that the hammer from the figure could do accidentally to a power cable.

EXAMPLE

Ensure that you have secure footing and good balance while using a hammer.

ALWAYS inspect the hammer before beginning the task to be sure it is not damaged and that all parts are secure. Be certain that replaceable faces are fitted securely into the head. On split-head hammers, be sure that the face and handle securing screws are periodically retightened, as necessary.

You can use clamps or a vise to secure the piece you are striking with a hammer.

Use only a hammer when driving nails into an object or material. Never use a rock, brick or other tools for this purpose or risk getting injured.

NEVER use a hammer with a split or damaged handle. The practice of taping a cracked handle is dangerous and can result in injury to the user as well as nearby personnel.

ALWAYS replace striking faces before they wear down far enough to allow the body of the hammer head to contact the work surface.

A damaged handle would certainly break in time. EXAMPLE

NEVER use a hammer with a loose handle. Loose handles should be replaced or fitted with new wedges of the proper size. Replacement handles should be of the same length and quality as the original.

NEVER use a light weight hammer on tasks that require heavy blows. Choose a hammer of sufficient weight so that only a natural swing is required. Let the weight of the hammer do the work.

At a hammer with a loose handle, the head of the hammer could take off and ”fly” any time at work, hurting the worker or the persons nearby.

EXAMPLE

When pulling nails or prying material apart, ensure that the claw of the hammer is in the proper position and the right leverage is applied.

Only the face of the hammer should be used for striking. Never strike with the side or cheek of ahammer; these areas are simply not designed or tempered for striking.

Remember that broken, worn out, bent or damaged tools are not only unproductive and frustrating to work with, but if repeatedly used, they will almost certainly lead to an accident or injury.

Before using a hammer, ensure that its handle is not loose, cracked or splintered. Make sure, too, the handle fits securely.

If the handle on a hammer is loose, splintered, or cracked, the head may fly off and strike the user or another person. Hammers with broken or split handles, should be repaired or discarded.

Wooden handles that are worn, cracked or damaged in any way should be replaced with new ones of equal size and type. Replace or tighten loose handles with the proper wedges, and never use nails or staples for wedges.

Check the integrity of the hammer before use. Look for firm attachment of the head to the handle. Also check for splinters, loose wrapping, or other defects in the handle. If the hammer has any defects do not use it.

It is more energy efficient to grip the handle firmly at the end, but hold it a bit higher up while you are learning if that feels most comfortable and secure for you.

If the nail is small, and so difficult to hold without hitting your fingers with the hammer, push the nail through a piece of card (stiff paper, etc) and use that to hold the nail. In this way your fingers are not near the hammer.To avoid marring a surface while hammering something into place (not a nail) hold a piece of scrap wood against the object and pound on that.Some hammers are ergonomically designed with rubber grips. If you have problems gripping a handle properly, try ergonomic grips

Check the surrounding space before you swing. You could accidentaly hit something or your blow could be stoped by something.

Hit just with the hitting surface, not sideways.

Select a hammer that is comfortable for you and that is the proper size and weight for the job. Misuse can cause the striking face to chip, possibly causing a serious injury.Choose a hammer with a striking face diameter approximately 12 mm (0.5 inch) larger than the face of the tool being struck (e.g., chisels, punches, wedges, etc.).Ensure that the head of the hammer is firmly attached to the handle.Replace loose, cracked or splintered handles.

Strike a hammer blow squarely with the striking face parallel to the surface being struck. Always avoid glancing blows and over and under strikes. (Hammers with bevelled faces are less likely to chip or spall.)Look behind and above you before swinging the hammer.Watch the object you are hitting.Hold the hammer with your wrist straight and your hand firmly wrapped around the handle