The most commonly misused tool is the screwdriver. You likely have a number of them in your tool box, and several others around the house. They are versatile and handy to have, but they are also designed for one purpose: installing and removing screws. That is it.
Below are examples of improper use of hand tools. Pushing rather than pulling a wrench to loosen a tight fastener. Bending metal with undersized pliers, which can damage the pliers and the metal. Holding an item you're working on in one hand while attempting to remove a screw with a screw- driver in the other hand.
The greatest hazards posed by hand tools result from misuse and improper maintenance: When using saw blades, knives, or other tools, cut away from yourself and direct the tools away from aisle areas and away from other employees working in close proximity.
Do not use a screwdriver as a punch, wedge, pinch bar or pry. Keep the tip clean and sharp to permit a solid grip on the tip of the screw. Keep the handle of the screwdriver clean and intact to allow for a solid grip. Never hold the piece you are working on in your hand.
The Phillips screwdriver is mostly used in the automotive industry and it has a cross (X) shape at the tip. This type of tool is used to turn screws with more torque to achieve the desired fit and is less prone to slippage. Using a Phillips screwdriver may require greater grip strength.
Phillips screw heads allow a tighter fit than a flat head screw, which is why most factories and handymen use them. The screws tend to be lightweight and relatively small. The trick is to match your screwdriver to the type and size of screws you're using.
Flathead Screwdriver
The slot or flat-headed screwdriver is probably the most common form of hand tool. It has a flattened tip used for screws with a straight linear intrusion across the head. Flat blade screwdrivers are multi-purpose and can typically be used for a range of applications.
Beginners commonly make the mistake of using a driver that's too small. An undersized driver slips easily, damaging the screw head and making it difficult to turn afterward—even with a correctly-sized driver. This is known as a stripped screw.
Screwdrivers can be used to inflict deep puncture wounds that may penetrate bone, including the skull, and cause lethal organ injuries.
Generally, screwdrivers should not be used as chisels. They may slip and puncture a worker's skin. If the tip of the chisel is used as a screwdriver, it may break the skin. When these tools are stored in pockets, they may injure someone who has fallen.
The screwdriver is one of the most commonly used and abused hand tools. Use the right tool for the job: Each tool is designed to perform a specific function. It is dangerous to substitute or use an inappropriate tool.
Employees who use hand and power tools are exposed but not limited to the following hazards: falling, flying objects, abrasions, splashing objects, harmful dusts or fumes, mists, vapors and gases. Workers shall be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to eliminate exposures.
Misuse occurs when a hand tool is used for something other than its intended purpose. (An example would be using a screwdriver as a chisel. This may cause the tip to break and strike someone). Improper maintenance allows hand tools to deteriorate into an unsafe condition.
When we misuse hand tools, the possibility of injury to ourselves or people working around us increases considerably. Furthermore, using a tool incorrectly can damage the tool or even cause the tool to fail.
Sometimes, nails have a burr on the end of them so they can be used as a replacement screwdriver. Grasp the nail with a pair of pliers to turn it. You can even try using a hammer to tap the nail into the tiny screws, improving the grip. You could also try working with a drill and drill bit.
The straight-headed screwdriver penetrates the skin by a mode II crack which results in a compressed skin plug with bundles of collagen fibres forming skin tabs within the actual wound. The sharper-tipped screwdrivers wedge open the skin (mode I), with a clearly defined edge with no skin plugs.
If any bare metal of the tool contacts a live electrical current, the whole shaft becomes live. And if the shaft is touching a metal box, another electrical part, or your finger, bad stuff can happen.
Do not use a screwdriver for prying, punching, chiseling, scoring, scraping or stirring paint. Do not use pliers on the handle of a screwdriver for extra turning power. A wrench should only be used on the square screwdriver shank designed for that purpose.
NEVER strike a screwdriver with a hammer or mallet, the tips are brittle and could break and injure.
Phillips screwdriver bits and sets
Phillips screwdriver bits are among the most widely used of all types today.
Called Torx, 6 point, and star, Torx are a 6 pointed star shaped screwdriver. Originally designed in the 60's to outperform hex screws, Torx is a trademarked name for a screwdriver that fits Torx screws, commonly seen in sizes Torx 6 to Torx 40 (or T6 to T40).
Adjust fasteners easily with a # 3 phillips screwdriver. This screwdriver tip width is 5/16 in., and coated with a precision fitted black tip which can fit screw sizes: 10, 11, 12, 14 and 16 very accurately.