Summary Statement

A toolbox talk on preventing struck-by incidents involving the use of power tools. Includes questions to ask, an incident to discuss with images, and a place to record questions the trainer would like to ask about the incident. Part of a collection. Click on the 'collection' button to access the other items.

How do we prevent struck-by incidents involving power tools?

Ask the following questions and give time for answers.

  • What are the hazards? Powder-actuated fasteners penetrating walls, pneumatic hoses whipping and missing safety devices at the source, grinding wheels shattering, circular saws.
  • What are the results? Eye injuries including blindness, face lacerations, head injuries, death
  • What should we look for? Defective tools and cords, missing guards, powderactuated tools being used near other trades

Relate this incident or, better, one you know.

Actual Incident: On August 7, 2006, at a Department of Energy facility in Tennessee, a worker was cutting a 6-inch steel water pipe with a gas-powered abrasive wheel when the saw kicked back and struck the worker’s face shield, resulting in a laceration and two fractures to the nose. It would have been much more severe had he not been

Ask the following question and ensure every item is covered.

How do we prevent these results?

  • Wear safety glasses and face shields when working with these tools.
  • Make sure workers using powder-actuated tools have been trained. If not, they are a risk to everyone working nearby.
  • Never place hand or fingers over the front muzzle end of a powder-actuated tool and always hold the tool perpendicular to the work, insuring the spall guard is in place.
  • Inspect tools to insure that protective guards are in place and in good condition.
  • Perform ring tests of grinding wheels to determine if they are intact.
  • Keep the cord behind the cut to prevent cutting the cord.
  • Never stand in line with the unprotected part of a grinding wheel, stand to the side and out of the plane of rotation during start-up. Always wear safety glasses and full-face shields.
  • Check electric tools for defects, such as missing grounding pins and cracked cases, before using and always use a GFCI.

Ask the following questions and solicit their own stories.

Let’s talk about this site now.

  • Has anyone seen powder-actuated tools being used on this site? Why are we concerned about these tools? Who is most at risk from these tools?
  • Why is it so important to inspect electric power tools before each use?
  • Why do we need to use GFCIs with all electric tools? What do they do?

Record questions below that you want to ask about this site.