EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doc. No. : EH&S P20
Revision : 0
PROCEDURE
PORTABLE HAND-HELD POWER,
PNEUMATIC COMPRESSED AIR, AND
POWDER ACTUATING TOOLS;
POWER LAWNMOWERS; AND JACKS
Origin Date : 10/3/2011
Revision Date : None
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this program is to establish safe work practices, operations, and maintenance of hand,
portable hand-held power, pneumatic compressed air, and powder actuating tools; power
lawnmowers; and jacks, in accordance with WAC 296-155 (Parts C&G) and 296-807. This
procedure applies to all Eastern Washington University (EWU) employees performing work with
hand, portable hand-held power, and pneumatic, compressed air, and powder actuating tools; power
lawnmowers; and jacks. This document does not supersede the WAC and the provisions of the
WAC prevail when this document contradicts, is inconsistent with, or omits information found
within the WAC. The supervisor and all employees shall read and understand the applicable
sections of the WAC, listed as follows.
Supervisors shall review and be prepared to implement the following provisions as part of the preplanning process for projects:
WAC Section(s):
Applies to:
296-155-200 through 240
Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment
296-155-350 through 380
Tools—Hand and Power
296-807-110 Switches (controls)
Hand-held portable power tools.
296-807-120 through 12005
Hand-held portable circular saws.
296-807-130 through 13005
Hand-held portable belt sanding machines.
296-807-140 through 14040
Hand-held portable compressed air powered tools, fastener
driving air tools (e.g. nailers and staplers), and air hose and
plastic pipe used to supply compressed air to these tools.
296-807-150 through 15055
Powder actuating fastening systems
Powder actuated fastening systems designed to use the
expanding gases from a powder load to propel a stud, pin,
fastener, or other object into hard structural material.
296-807-160 through 16035
Consumer and commercial power lawnmowers.
296-807-170 through 17020
Jacks Portable hand- or power-operated:
• Hydraulic jacks
• Mechanical ratchet jacks
• Mechanical screw jacks.
296-807-180 through 18085
Portable tools using abrasive wheels.
Page 1 of 4
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doc. No. : EH&S P20
Revision : 0
PROCEDURE
PORTABLE HAND-HELD POWER,
PNEUMATIC COMPRESSED AIR, AND
POWDER ACTUATING TOOLS;
POWER LAWNMOWERS; AND JACKS
Origin Date : 10/3/2011
Revision Date : None
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1.
All tools shall be maintained in safe condition.
2.
Employees shall inspect all tools before each day’s use consistent with manufacturer’s
instructions.
3.
All tools shall be stored and maintained in a safe manner, free of hazards, and defects.
4.
Tools found to be defective or unsafe shall not be used, shall be immediately removed from
service and shall be tagged as “unsafe to use until repairs can be made”.
5.
All portable hand, power, and pneumatic tools shall be equipped, inspected, guarded, operated
and maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications and limitations and shall only be
used by qualified operators consistent with manufacturer’s instructions. All compressed air,
powder actuating tools, power lawnmowers and power tools using abrasive wheels shall meet
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Safety Standards and be equipped and used
only as specified by the manufacturer.
Power Supply Cords/Extension Cords
 All power supply cords shall be free from damage, stored, maintained, and used in a safe
manner.
 Power supply and extension cords shall not be fastened with staples, hung from nails,
suspended by wire or otherwise hung in such a fashion as could damage the outer jacket or
insulation. Flexible electric cords connected to equipment shall not be used for raising or
lowering the equipment. All cords and receptacles shall be double insulated UL approved.
Any cords with a broken or missing ground plug shall be removed from service and replaced.
 Cords shall be located away from foot, vehicle, and other traffic areas that may cause
tripping/ falls or damage to the cord. If cords must be located within a traffic area, approved
protection/warning shall be provided.
Tool-Specific Safety Requirements
 Hand tools shall not be used if they are unsafe. This includes: wrenches, including
adjustable, pipe, end, and socket wrenches shall not be used when jaws are sprung or worn to
the point that slippage occurs; nails shall not be cut with an axe; impact tools, such as drift
pins, wedges, and chisels, shall be kept free of mushroomed heads; and the wooden handles
of tools shall be kept free of splinters or cracks and shall be kept tight in the tool.
 Power operated and pneumatic tools designed to accommodate guards, shall be equipped
with such guards when in use. Guards shall not be removed.
 Hand-held portable power tools shall have safe switches (controls that are located in a
position that makes it difficult to accidentally operate the tool.
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EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doc. No. : EH&S P20
Revision : 0
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PROCEDURE
PORTABLE HAND-HELD POWER,
PNEUMATIC COMPRESSED AIR, AND
POWDER ACTUATING TOOLS;
POWER LAWNMOWERS; AND JACKS
Origin Date : 10/3/2011
Revision Date : None
Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other
reciprocating, rotating or moving parts of equipment shall be guarded, if such parts are
exposed to contact by employees or otherwise create a hazard. Guarding shall meet the
requirements as set forth in the American National Standards Institute B15.1-1953 (R1958),
Safety Code for Mechanical Power-Transmission Apparatus.
Grinders using abrasive wheels shall have safety guards. Guards shall be mounted so as to
maintain proper alignment with the wheel and with fasteners sufficient to keep the guard in
place if the wheel breaks. Guards shall be positioned so as to deflect any pieces of a broken
wheel away from the operator, and shall cover the spindle end nut and flange projections.
Circular saws must use a constant pressure switch to turn on or operate any circular saw
using a blade that has a diameter greater than 2 inches. Remove cracked saws and saw
blades from service. Make sure power driven circular saws that have a blade diameter larger
than 2 inches, have guards above and below the base plate (shoe).
Air tools must be maintained so they cannot accidentally eject an attachment; the tool nozzle
and airhose opening shall not be pointed at anyone or allowed to contact a person’s body; the
airhose and hose connections must be suitable for the air pressure and use; plastic pipe used
to supply air to the tools must be identified by the manufacturer as being suitable for
compressed air use. They must have pressure relieved in the air line before disconnecting the
compressed air tool from the line or disconnecting a hose joint unless there is automatic
valve closing protection at the joint being separated; and the tool must be disconnected from
the compressed air supply before repairs are done. When cleaning with compressed air, the
air pressure must be reduced to less than 30 psi static pressure at the nozzle and there must be
effective chip guarding.
Fastener air driving tools must have all air discharged when disconnected from the
compressed air supply and all pneumatically driven nailers, staplers and similar equipment
provided with automatic fastener feeds must have a safety device on the muzzle to prevent
the tool from ejecting fasteners, unless the muzzle is in contact with the work surface.
Power lawnmower operators shall keep people clear of discharge opening(s); keep people
clear of discharge opening(s); keep people’s hands and feet clear of rotating parts; and clear
the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire, bones, sticks, etc., which could be picked up and
thrown by the blade creating a hazard for the operator or other persons. Operators shall turn
the engine off before leaving the equipment, unclogging the grass discharge chute or cleaning
the mower.
Portable hand, power, or pneumatic tools shall not to be modified in any way not approved
by the manufacturer.
Personal Protective Equipment
 Employees using hand and power tools and exposed to the hazard of falling, flying, abrasive,
and splashing objects, or exposed to harmful dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases shall use
the particular personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to protect them from the
hazard. Such PPE may include safety glasses, gloves, goggles, dust masks, and/or
respirators.
Page 3 of 4
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doc. No. : EH&S P20
Revision : 0
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PROCEDURE
PORTABLE HAND-HELD POWER,
PNEUMATIC COMPRESSED AIR, AND
POWDER ACTUATING TOOLS;
POWER LAWNMOWERS; AND JACKS
Origin Date : 10/3/2011
Revision Date : None
Employees operating power lawnmowers shall wear safety goggles or safety glasses with
side shields when operating the mower.
All personal protective equipment shall meet the requirements of and be maintained
according to WAC 296-155 (Parts B and C).
Industrial grade safety glasses or goggles approved by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) shall be worn by all employees using portable hand, power, compressed air;
powder actuated fastening systems, and pneumatic tools. Loose clothing, neckties, or hooded
sweatshirts with tie strings shall not be worn by employees using portable power or
pneumatic tools.
Supervisors shall ensure the proper selection, storage, inspection, operation, guarding, and use and
maintenance of all hand, hand-held portable power, pneumatic, compressed air, and powder
actuating tools; power lawn mowers; and jacks.
The supervisor shall review “Items to Remember” and other applicable safety requirements with
employees during safety meetings:
Items to remember:
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All tools used by employees must be maintained in a safe condition
All employees must inspect all tools before each day’s use.
Tools found to be defective or unsafe must be tagged and removed from service until all
repairs have been made.
No tools can be modified in any way that is not specified by the manufacturer.
Industrial grade safety glasses or goggles must be ANSI approved and worn by all employees
using hand, power and pneumatic tools.
Loose clothing, neckties, or hooded sweatshirts with tie strings must not be worn by
employees using power or pneumatic tools.
All tools requiring guarding must be fitted with the approved guards before use. Guards shall
not be removed.
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