Standard Operating Procedures
Committed to Excellence in Mining Safety
Hand and Portable Tools
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Hand and Portable Tools
IPurpose
To establish minimum standards for the tools used in the execution of the various tasks to
ensure they are suitable, they are correct for the task, that they are in good condition, and
that they are used correctly in carrying out the work.
2SCOPE
This procedure applies to all functional areas, operations, offices, including employees,
vendors, visitors and contractors within the scope of the Integrated Management
System (IMS).
3 DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS
Definitions
General Rules are rules which apply to all employees, vendors, visitors, and contractors
regardless of where they work or what they do.
Molded Cords are original office equipment molded cords such as for computers, printers,
microwaves.
Pneumatic Tools are air operated tools.
Power Strips are devices that are designed to allow for multiple plugs connected to a single
circuit. Approved power strips shall be equipped with over load protection.
Site refers to any COMPANY facility.
Surge Protectors are electrical devices that are designed to protect computers or other
electrical devices from surges.
Task Specific is any requirement directly associated with a specific job, task, or occupation.
Acronyms
(Cont.)
HMR HSLP Management Representative
HSLP
Health, Safety and Loss Prevention
IMS Integrated Management System
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
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4ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Document Owner
HMR
Responsible Roles and Position-Holders
Contractors/Vendors are businesses performing a service for the COMPANY. They are
responsible for ensuring their employees working on COMPANY sites have the required PPE
as specified in this procedure and that their employees understand and comply with the
requirements as outlined in this procedure.
Employees and Contracted Employees are all employees in any position whether
COMPANY or contracted employees working on any COMPANY site. They are responsible for
complying with the requirements as outlined in this procedure.
Visitors are anyone not employed by the COMPANY in any capacity but are traveling or
touring on a COMPANY site. They are responsible for complying with the requirements as
outlined in this procedure.
HSLP is any COMPANY employee working under and including the Regional Director
of HSLP. They are responsible for periodically auditing for compliance to this procedure,
randomly inspecting tools, and file documents which support audits, compliance, and
inspections.
A Supervisor/Foreman or Designee can be a COMPANY employee or a contractor/
vendor working or traveling on any COMPANY site. They are responsible for enforcement of all
requirements, rules, and established guidelines as outlined in this procedure including removal
of tools as stated in procedure. They ensure personnel are provided with the necessary and
proper instructions and training for tool use and inspection and shall conduct routine field
audits to determine the condition of tools being utilized by personnel. They shall approve
specialized tools and ensure proper documentation.
5DIRECTION
All employees, vendors, contractors, and visitors traveling/working on site shall comply with
and ensure that personnel accountable to them comply with the following requirements of this
procedure.
General Standards
Tools shall be inspected before each use to ensure they are in good working order and can be
used safely to complete the task.
Any tools found not to be in working order, with damage, or with defects, shall be:
a Tagged with a “DO NOT OPERATE” tag.
b Taken out of service.
c Repaired, replaced, or destroyed.
d The supervisor shall be notified.
(Cont.) Hand and Portable Tools
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Tools shall be used only for the purpose for which it was designed and employees shall use
the correct tool for the task.
All guards shall be in place and in good repair.
Powered hand tools shall not be equipped with working trigger locks.
When transporting tools:
a Where ladder access is required, systems such as a back pack or a pull line
must be used so personnel can maintain hands free climbing at all times.
b In vehicles or mobile equipment, the tools must be secured in tool boxes or
other means to prevent damage to the tools and the occupants.
Tools shall be cleaned and property stored after use.
Appropriate PPE shall be used for the tool and task.
Tool Room Personnel
Ensure all tools in tool room inventory or checked out through the tool room are inspected and
ready for use prior to being checked out.
Make sure all portable electric tools including extension cords are current with the correct
color tape for continuity resistance checks.
Electric Tools
Must be grounded or be double insulated.
Prior to use, all electrical tools and extension cords must be inspected to:
a Ensure the ground check colored tape (band) is current. Color coding for
ground continuity tape will follow the National Resistor Color system. Colors
are as follows, for years ending in:
•0=Black
•1=Brown
•2=Red
• 3= Orange
•4=Yellow
•5=Green
•6=Blue
•7=Violet
•8=Gray
• 9= White
Color
Band
Color
Band
Black0
Green5
Brown1
Blue6
Red2
Violet7
Orange
3
Grey
8
Yellow
4
White
9
b Make sure cords are in good conditions with no cuts in the insulating jacket
or exposed conductors.
c Ensure plugs are in good condition with all prongs in place. A three prong
plug may never be cut off in order to accommodate a two prong outlet and
three prong to two prong adaptors must not be used.
d Exceptions are the original office molded cords and office use surge power
strips that have no damage.
(Cont.) Hand and Portable Tools
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Prior to use all electrical tools shall be inspected to ensure:
a All triggers, switches, etc. are functioning properly.
b All guards are in place and in good condition.
All outlets used should be inspected for damage prior to use, any damage found must be
reported to the supervisor and the outlets should be tagged “DO NOT OPERATE” until
repaired.
Electrical outlets and plugs must be the proper plug type for the voltage.
Portable Electric tools shall have ground testing prior to being placed into service, after repair
and annually thereafter.
Surge protectors and power strips will be equipped with overload protection.
Extension cords used in field work require ground checks.
Electrical equipment cords shall not be intentionally subjected to undue stresses by
transporting them by the electrical cord or by pulling on the electrical cord to unplug the
equipment.
Protect electric cables from burning, corrosion, cuts and crushing from passing vehicles, etc.
Portable electrical equipment shall be unplugged prior to cleaning, changing any accessories
or when the equipment is no longer being utilized.
Before connecting a tool to it power supply, check that its switch is in the “OFF” position.
It is prohibited to extend cables using insulating or vulcanized tape.
Formalized Tool Inspection Program
All portable electrical tools and extension cords shall have the continuity resistance checked
as well as an inspection of overall condition annually to ensure good working order.
All pneumatic tools shall be inspected on an annual basis to ensure they are in working order.
Chain-falls and come-a-longs shall be inspected and tested on an annual basis.
Each tool will be inspected prior to use and after each use and properly stored. Damaged
tools will be tagged out and removed from service until repaired or disposed of.
Equipment with cords permanently attached may have the inspection color indicated on their
cord.
Marking of equipment or cords must be done in a fashion that will not allow easy removal (e.g.
tape, paint).
These formal tests do not eliminate the need for pre-use inspections prior to using any tools.
(Cont.) Hand and Portable Tools
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Grinders
The discs or stones from cutting, grinding or shaping tools must be complete and solid over
their whole diameter, that is to say, free of splits or an other sign that may raise doubts as to its
integrity.
Do not use grinding discs or stones at a speed higher than is indicated on them.
The maximum angular exposure of the periphery and sides must not exceed 180˚. The other
half must always been closed by the safety guard.
The safety guard must always face the worker. The disc or stone must always be under the
guard.
Other Tools
Fuel powered tools must be shut down before fueling. If they have been in use, care must be
taken to keep fuel away from hot engine parts by permitting the tool to cool a few minutes
before fueling.
Picks, shovels, hammers and any other tools must be free of splinters and cracks.
Hammers shall be classified as soft.
Punches, chisels, cold-chisels and other tools having heads which have sharp edges, burred,
or mushroomed, must be properly dressed, repaired, or replaced.
Wrenches must be of adequate size. Cheater pipes should not be used to increase leverage
as this may cause the wrench to fail. If necessary, get a larger wrench.
Knifes shall be kept sharp and cuts shall be made away from the body. Make every attempt to
secure item before cut as this will allow better control of the cutting tool.
Pneumatic tools must be connected to the air supply using appropriate couplings. Any
connection, other than automatic shutoff type require:
aWhip-checks
b Safety clips
c Other suitable locking devices
Jackhammers will be secured using O-rings with rubber laces that prevent the die’s
accidental exit.
a In the case of a jackhammer with a socket as a safety catch (billet type) or
other system that works as a safety catch, the O-ring will not be necessary.
Larger tools such as chain saws, jackhammers, and grinders must be equipped with an
additional lateral handle that allows for two handed operation without making contact with the
tools revolving parts.
(Cont.) Hand and Portable Tools
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