Bobby Lewis

Handle with Care: Hand Tool Safety at Work and Home

Hand tools are essential for countless tasks, from tightening bolts to building structures. But when used improperly or poorly maintained, they can become serious hazards. According to OSHA, employers are responsible for ensuring tools and equipment are in safe condition for use. Whether you’re on the jobsite or tackling a weekend project, following basic hand tool safety practices can prevent injuries and keep work moving safely.

The Biggest Risks

The most common dangers with hand tools come from two main causes: misuse and poor maintenance. Misusing tools, like using a wrench as a hammer, can damage the tool, cause it to break unexpectedly, or lead to a serious accident. Poor maintenance is equally dangerous; a dull blade or loose handle can cause slips, reduced control, or sudden tool failure.

Safety Steps Before You Start

Before using any hand tool:

Inspect the tool for damage. Check cords, plugs, blades, handles, and guards.
Ensure cutting edges are sharp and in good condition.
Verify safety guards are intact and working.
Choose the right PPE safety glasses, gloves when appropriate, and never gloves with rotating tools.

During Use

Always operate tools according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Cut away from your body and others nearby.
Maintain secure footing and a strong grip, especially with large tools.
Use the right tool for the job, no improvising.
When handing a tool to someone, pass it handle-first. Never toss it.

Additional Precautions

When working at heights, secure tools to prevent them from falling. Carry tools in a belt or box, and use a hoist or rope for lifting them to elevated areas. Store tools properly when you’re done to protect both the tools and your co-workers.

For repetitive or forceful tasks, choose ergonomic tools and be alert for signs of musculoskeletal strain, numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness. Early action can prevent long-term injury.

Specific Rates

Workplace Hand/Wrist/Finger Injuries:

About 29.6 incidents per 10,000 full-time workers in private industries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annual Hand Tool Injuries (General Estimates):

Over 100,000 injuries annually in the U.S., with some sources reporting around 1 million hand injuries sending workers to the emergency room each year, according to Allen Law Group and bhhcsafetycenter.com.

Hospitals Visits:

Nearly 400,000 annual visits to the ER for injuries from work tools, including hand tools.

Why It Matters

A well-maintained tool is a safe and efficient tool. Not only will proper care extend its life, but it will also reduce the risk of cuts, punctures, and impact injuries. By committing to safe practices, you protect yourself, your co-workers, and the overall productivity of the jobsite.

Remember: Safety isn’t just about avoiding accidents, it’s about building habits that make safe work second nature. Take a minute to inspect, maintain, and use your tools correctly every time.

Newsletter

Safety Spotlight: Hand Tool Hazards & How to Avoid Them

Hand tools are a daily part of most jobs and most homes. But misuse and poor maintenance are leading causes of preventable injuries. OSHA requires employers to ensure tools are safe to use, and you can take steps to protect yourself.

Before Use:

Inspect the tool. Check for damage, dull edges, loose handles, frayed cords, or missing guards.
Wear the right PPE, safety glasses, gloves for sharp tools (never with rotating tools).
Use only the tool designed for the task.

During Use:

Follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep a secure grip and footing.
Cut away from your body and others nearby.
Hand tools to others handle-first, never toss them.

Other Precautions:

Use hoists or ropes to lift tools when working at heights.
Store tools properly to prevent damage.
Watch for signs of strain from repetitive tasks and early action can prevent injury.

A dull blade, cracked handle, or missing guard can turn a simple task into a serious hazard. Keep your tools sharp, clean, and in top condition.

Remember: The right tool, used the right way, keeps you safe and gets the job done right.

Handle with Care: Hand Tool Safety at Work and Home Read More »

Do You Have the Big Picture of Your Risk Exposure?

As an employer, you’re required to keep your workforce and worksites safe. But knowing which regulatory requirements apply, especially if you manage multiple facilities can be confusing. That uncertainty often leaves businesses vulnerable to OSHA, EPA, DOT, and other regulatory fines.

H&A’s COMPLIANCEAction Assessment gives you a clear snapshot of your current risk exposure, pinpoints gaps that could lead to violations, and provides a prioritized action plan, all for about the cost of a single, serious OSHA citation.

Why an Assessment Matters

Compliance gaps don’t go away on their own. OSHA has been increasing penalties and inspections: serious citations now average more than $5,000, repeat violations can cost over $132,000, and penalties rise with inflation every year. Beyond fines, workplace injuries carry heavy expenses: medical, administrative, productivity loss, higher workers’ compensation premiums, and the lasting cost of bad publicity.

Your Options for Action

Once your compliance risks are clear, you can choose how much support you want:

Option 1: We provide a list of short and long-term action items for your staff.

Option 2: We partner with you to divide and conquer.

Option 3: We take full accountability for corrective actions involving physical hazards.

If you continue with H&A for ongoing compliance support, a portion of the assessment cost is deducted from your first invoice. In fact, 95% of clients in our ASSUREDCompliance® program renew year after year.

The ROI of Risk Reduction

Studies show every $1 invested in injury prevention returns between $2–$6. That’s real savings and the peace of mind that your people and business are protected.

If OSHA dropped by tomorrow, would you be prepared? Schedule your COMPLIANCEAction Assessment today.

Do You Have the Big Picture of Your Risk Exposure? Read More »

Why Outsource?

You can’t do everything!

Well, I guess you can try but can you do them all well at the same time? One of the biggest hurdles businesses encounters is management attempting to do everything alone. Handling all facets of the business can lead to burnout and increased stress levels for management potentially affecting their health and business performance. To be most successful, owners need to focus on their core competencies. So, ask yourself: what do you do best?

Handling every task can divert your attention from what you do best. Just imagine how much better your company would function if you chose to outsource the areas for which your company lacks the resources to handle. One of these areas that is frequently lacking expertise and resources is environmental health and safety.

We offer a six-figure safety team for your company at a fraction of the cost.

As budgets continue to be tight for American companies, Hellman & Associates offers their client partners an option to create a safe environment for their employees at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time department.

Companies outsource various operation aspects as it can offer benefits. Here are some common reasons why businesses choose to outsource EH&S needs:

Cost Savings: Outsourcing EH&S tasks can be more cost-effective than hiring in-house staff. Hellman & Associates offers a way to save money on salaries, benefits, office space and equipment.
Focus on Core Activities: Outsourcing safety tasks allows companies to concentrate on core competencies and strategic goals. This way, a company can redirect resources towards growing their business.
Access to Specialized Skills: Outsourcing your EH&S needs provides expertise without the need for expensive recruitment.
Scalability: Companies can scale their needs up or down without the burden of adding or laying off employees.
Risk Mitigation: Compliance matters carry legal and financial risks if not handled properly. Outsourcing EH&S responsibilities helps mitigate potential risks and ensures compliance with regulations.

Finally, while outsourcing can offer significant advantages, it’s important to choose partners carefully, establish clear communication and manage the relationship effectively to ensure the best results. H&A offers these qualities and outsourced EHS compliance management services that protect your workforce and keep your company current with regulatory requirements.

Let Hellman & Associates help you be successful.

In summary, small businesses cannot do everything on their own. Recognizing this limitation is essential for success. The strategy of outsourcing EHS tasks can add to effectively manage your company, make the most of your resources and add to your long-term growth and sustainability.

Why Outsource? Read More »

Dust Can Be Deadly

Beginning in 2007, OSHA increased its inspections and enforcements of combustible dust National Emphasis Programs (NEPs). Based on the agency’s enforcement history, OSHA revised the NEP in January 2023. The purpose of the revised NEP is emphasize OSHA’s intent to inspect facilities that generate or handle combustible dusts that are likely to fire, flash or explode. The top five industries with these hazards are farm suppliers, institutional furniture manufacturers, metal window and door manufacturers, sheet metal work manufacturers and furniture repairing operators.
The dusts which are most often associated with workplace issues are:
-metal
-wood
-coal and other carbons-plastic
-phenolic resins and additives
-rubber biosolids
-organics such as sugar, flour, paper, soap and dried blood
-textiles

OSHA has implemented a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to identify and reduce hazards which cause or are likely to cause hazards. You can find a PDF of the complete OSHA abstract on this NEP here.

Hellman & Associates has seen a surge in OSHA regulatory engagement with companies during the past year. OSHA regions are required to have inspection and enforcement procedures in place. When it comes to compliance, Hellman & Associates can be the key to favorable results when facing potential violations. We will assist your company to train workers on dust hazards, proper usage of equipment and safe work practices.

We have prepared a number of training materials including videos for your safety meetings. These toolbox topics include related subjects such as silica exposure and respiratory protection. H&A encourages you to download these and use in your safety training meetings.

Hellman & Associates can help companies minimize financial losses when in-house compliance programs came up short, click here and download this solution brief. A comprehensive overview of the ASSUREDCompliance program that has made Hellman & Associates the preferred EHS compliance partner for businesses like yours can be found on this web page.

Dust Can Be Deadly Read More »

A Safety Manager on Staff at a Fraction of the Typical Cost

Hellman & Associates has seen a surge in OSHA regulatory engagement with companies during the past year. When it comes to compliance, Hellman & Associates can be the key to favorable results when facing potential violations. Hellman & Associates helps minimize financial losses when in-house compliance programs come up short.

Examples of Reduced Citations and Fines negotiated by Hellman & Associates:

Even better are the examples demonstrating the benefits when a business takes advantage of Hellman & Associates’ ASSUREDCompliance program.

For more examples of how Hellman & Associates helped companies minimize financial losses when in-house compliance programs came up short, click here and download this solution brief. A comprehensive overview of the ASSUREDCompliance program that has made Hellman & Associates the preferred EHS compliance partner for businesses like yours can be found on this web page.

A Safety Manager on Staff at a Fraction of the Typical Cost Read More »

The Heat Is On

Back in 1985, Glenn Frey sang “The Heat Is On” and that is exactly the forecast! In less than a week, many areas of the country jumped from a mild spring right into major heat waves. This type of quick and ongoing temperature change exposes workers to dangerous risks related to heat exposure. And remember, heat stress can happen outdoors as well indoors.

Hellman & Associates has developed a handy poster you can place in your workplace and share with your employees to help them identify the signs and symptoms of heat stress so they know when to cool down before serious health risks set in.

Download the poster >>

Additional Resources: H&A has compiled a variety of resources to facilitate effective safety meetings.

Timely topics for this week include:

The Heat Is On Read More »

Ryan Hellman Recognized as OSHA Region VIII VPP Leader of the Year

Each year, OSHA Region VIII Recognizes a person or persons from a VPP site who exhibited exemplary leadership in employee safety and health during the previous year. Ryan was nominated by the employees of Hellman & Associates. Their nomination stated Ryan provides H&A staff with training, support, time, equipment, and encouragement to be safe on the job at all times. Hellman & Associates has been a longtime VPP participant and Ryan supports the staff’s participation in the OSHA VPP Special Government Employee program. In fact, at any given time 20-25% of the staff at Hellman & Associates are certified as SGEs. This is a tremendous level of support and commitment to the OSHA VPP. In addition, Ryan has actively supported OSHA mentoring efforts, conferences and VPP outreach. He is a strong ambassador for employee safety and health in Region VIII.

Ryan Hellman Recognized as OSHA Region VIII VPP Leader of the Year Read More »

VPP Star Celebration

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration awarded the Voluntary Protection Program Star designation to Hellman & Associates for the 13th consecutive year. This award extends this prestigious designation for another three years. The VPP Star is OSHA’s highest level of recognition of employers and workers who employ effective safety and health management systems and keep injury and illness rates below the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ industry averages.

Hellman & Associates celebrated this prestigious designation on Friday, June 23, 2023 at their Wheat Ridge office. The Celebration was attended by OSHA Region VIII executives, H&A clients, city of Wheat Ridge officials and H&A staff.

H&A staff: Ray Robitschek, Peter Polizzi & Ryan Hellman

Steve Biasi, OSHA Deputy Regional Administrator

Pete Pollizzi receives the VPP Star plaque from Megan Meagher, OSHA Asst. Regional Administrator

Brad Baptiste, OSHA VPP Regional Manager

VPP Star Celebration Read More »

Hellman & Associates Recognized for Workplace Safety and Health Excellence

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has awarded the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star designation to Hellman & Associates Inc., an environmental safety and health compliance management firm. The VPP Star is OSHA’s highest level of recognition of employers and workers who have employed effective safety and health management systems and kept injury and illness rates below the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ industry averages.

OSHA recognized Hellman & Associates for having an effective pre-task plan, job hazard analysis and strong culture of safety and health excellence, management commitment and employee engagement. VPP programs bring company management, site employees and OSHA together to work proactively to focus on hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis, training, management commitment and worker involvement to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses. Prospective VPP participants apply to OSHA for consideration, and then undergo a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals.

“Hellman & Associates is a great example for a company seeking to develop and implement highly effective safety and health management systems. For 13 years, they have earned the Star designation and have generously helped other companies achieve VPP recognition,” explained Jennifer Rous, OSHA Region 8 Administrator. “As we renew their status for another three years, we applaud their commitment to setting high standards when it comes to keeping their employees and their clients’ employees safe at work.”

The OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) model is quite extensive. It is a tremendous challenge and a great achievement to be a VPP. Getting VPP status is difficult but staying in is even harder. VPP requires a long-term commitment to continuous improvement in the site safety and health management system. H&A is one of a very small number of safety and health management consulting companies in the country to achieve the OSHA VPP Star recognition.

Hellman & Associates Recognized for Workplace Safety and Health Excellence Read More »

Does OSHA Reporting Feel Overwhelming?

Does OSHA reporting feel overwhelming? That’s Because It’s Only One of Many Tasks You Do.

Some companies prefer to handle their OSHA record keeping in-house. And we understand why one might think that is the best way to handle this requirement. But, too many times companies leave reporting to the last moment which may result in missing deadlines. Overall, managing OSHA reporting internally is risky and can lead to compliance exposure.

H&A has noticed companies over-report when setting up their ISNetworld® account or other third-party contractor verification requirements. If injuries are over-reported, that company may be excluded from bidding on a project. (As you know, hiring companies that have a TCIR above-industry-average affects the ability to bid jobs.) Over-reporting is an important concern and can cause companies to receive an OSHA inspection. OSHA has a Site-Specific Targeting Program which targets establishments with higher-than-average TRIR/DART rates. So, you can see why it is important to report timely and accurately.

At Hellman & Associates, we deal with OSHA record keeping daily. We believe it is a good idea to allow H&A to review your information for accuracy. For example, H&A completed a routine inspection of a client’s OSHA records. This client reported 11 recordable injuries. Upon review of their loss runs, they actually only had three.

Here’s a breakdown of how this inflated their TRIR/DART rates:

11 recordable incidents: TRIR = 14.3 / DART = 7.8
3 recordable incidents: TRIR = 2.6 / DART = 1.3
Industry average: TRIR = 2.9 / DART = 2.0

Since this client had 150,000 hours worked, the TRIP/DART calculations increased their rates almost six times more.

Take away the guessing and last-minute chaos and change to a managed solution which achieves compliance requirements and drives your business to new milestones! Choose ASSUREDCompliance® to protect your business.

ASSUREDCompliance® is an annual partnership that applies H&A’s proven best practices to help your company ensure employee safety and avoid costly business disruptions. The best part? It’s about one-third of the cost of a full-time safety manager. As our partner, your regulatory compliance is guaranteed. If you incur a citation for something we should have managed, we pay for it.

Contact Hellman & Associates to learn more about how we can help you keep your valuable employees safe on the job.

Does OSHA Reporting Feel Overwhelming? Read More »