# Hand tool safety

URL: https://hardhatbinder.com/en/toolbox-talks/hand-tools
Last updated: 2026-10-23

Hammers, chisels, wrenches, and knives are in our hands all day, so it's easy to stop thinking about them. Most hand tool injuries come from a damaged tool or the wrong tool for the job. Let's take a few minutes to check our tools and our habits before we start.

## Key points

1. Inspect your tools before you use them. Look for cracked or loose handles, mushroomed chisel heads, and worn or sprung wrench jaws.
2. If a tool is damaged, tag it and take it out of service. Don't tape it up and keep going.
3. Use the right tool for the job. A screwdriver is not a pry bar, and a wrench is not a hammer.
4. Keep cutting tools sharp and cut away from your body. Retract or cover utility knife blades when you put them down.
5. Wear safety glasses when striking, chiseling, or cutting. Chips and metal fragments fly fast.
6. Pull on a wrench instead of pushing, and set your feet so you won't fall if it slips.
7. Never leave tools on ladders, scaffolds, or edges. Carry them in a pouch or bucket, and don't throw them to anyone.

## Talk it over

- Which tools on this job are worn out or damaged and need to be replaced?
- When have you seen someone use the wrong tool because the right one wasn't close by?
- Where on this site could a dropped tool hit someone below?

> **Remember:** Check it, use the right one, and pull bad tools out of service.

## Official sources

- [29 CFR 1926.300](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.300) — Hand and power tools — general requirements

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Source: HardHat Binder, operated by Leadspire LLC. Templates to be reviewed by a competent person before use; not legal advice; not affiliated with OSHA.