🔧 Hand & Power Tool Safety

Hand and power tools are so familiar that their hazards are easy to underestimate — yet they cause thousands of serious injuries every year, from lacerations and amputations to eye injuries, electric shock and long-term nerve damage from vibration. This course teaches hand and power tool safety end to end — the main hazard types (point of operation, flying particles, kickback, electrical, noise and vibration), how to choose and maintain hand tools, the five categories of power tool, guards and safety devices, electrical and GFCI protection, and the pre-use inspection and PPE that keep you safe. It is aligned with OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart P (1910.242–.244). The course is organized into 6 modules, ending with a final exam (pass mark 80%). It is free awareness-level training designed for anyone who picks up a tool at work.

What you'll learn

• The main hazards of hand and power tools
• Choosing, maintaining and using hand tools safely
• The five categories of power tool
• Guards and safety devices — and why you never remove them
• Electrical safety, cords and GFCI protection
• Pre-use inspection, PPE and safe work practices

Learning objectives

• Recognise the main tool hazards: point of operation, flying particles, kickback, electrical, noise and vibration
• Judge the condition of hand tools and use them safely, cutting away from the body and keeping edges sharp
• Name the five power-tool categories and the key precaution for each
• Explain why guards and constant-pressure switches must never be defeated
• Apply electrical safety: grounding versus double-insulation, GFCI, and cord care
• Carry out a pre-use inspection, tag out defective tools and select the right PPE