Self Inspection Checklist
Guidelines: This checklist applies to hand and portable power tools and equipment including pneumatic power tools. Fixed and portable abrasive wheels and tools, and fixed woodworking machinery are covered in other checklists.
Please CircleGeneral Requirements
- Are all portable hand or power tools maintainedin a safe condition?
[29 CFR 1926.300(a)]
- If compressed air is used for cleaning purposes, is itused at pressures less than 30 psi and only witheffective chip guarding and personal protectiveequipment?[29 CFR 1910.242(b) and 1926.302(b)(4)]
- Are power tools equipped and used with guardswhenever possible?
[29 CFR 1926.300(b)(1)]
- Are all belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets,spindles, drums, flywheels, chains, or otherreciprocating, rotating or moving parts of equipmentguarded if operator is exposed to contact or if theyotherwise create a hazard?[29 CFR 1926.300(b)(2)]
- Is all necessary personal protective equipment providedwhenever the use of hand and power tools couldcreate falling, flying or splashing debris, orharmful dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases.[29 CFR 1926.300(c)]
- If tools and equipment are brought in from home, arethey subject to the same safety requirements assupplied tools and equipment?[29 CFR 1910.242(a)]
- Are all chain saws, percussion tools, and hand-heldpowered circular saws (with blades greater than2 inches in diameter) equipped with a constantpressure switch that shuts off power when released?[29 CFR 1910.243(a)(2)(i); and 1926.300(d)(3)]
- Are all hand-held powered drills; tappers; fastenerdrivers; horizontal, vertical and angle grinders (withwheels greater than 2 inches in diameter); disc sanders(with discs greater than 2 inches in diameter); beltsanders; reciprocating saws; saber, scroll, jig saws(with blade shanks greater than a nominalone-fourth(1/4) inch); and other similarly power tools equippedwith a constant pressure switch or control?
[29 CFR 1910.243(a)(2)(ii) and 1926.300 (d)(1)-(3)]
- Are all-hand held powered platen sanders,grinders (with wheels two-inch diameter orless), routers, planers, laminate trimmers,nibblers, shears, scroll saws, and jig saws(with blade shanks one-fourth (1/4) of an inchwide or less), equipped with a positive "on-off"control?[29 CFR 1910.243(a)(2)(iii) and 1926.300(d)(1)]
- On hand-held power tools, is the operating controllocated so as to minimize the possibility ofaccidental operation?[29 CFR 1910.243(a)(2)(iv)]
- Are all portable power driven circular saws (withblade diameter greater than 2 inches) equippedwith guards above and below the base plate or shoe?[29 CFR 1910.243(a)(1)(i) and 1926.304(d)]
- Does the upper guard on a circular saw cover the sawto the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arcrequired to permit the base to be tilted for bevel cuts?[29 CFR 1926.304(d)]
- Does the lower guard on a circular saw cover the sawto the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arcrequired to allow proper retraction and contact withthe work?[29 CFR 1926.304(d)]
- When a circular saw is removed from the materialbeing sawed, does the lower guard automaticallyand instantly return to the covering position?
[29 CFR 1926.304(d)]
- Are belt sanding machines provided with guards at eachnip point, where the sanding belt runs onto a pulley?[29 CFR 1910.243(a)(3)]
- If a saw cracks, is it immediately removed from service?[29 CFR 1910.243(a)(4)]
- Are all portable, electrically powered tools properlygrounded or double insulated?[29 CFR 1910.243(a)(5) and 1926.302(a)(1)]
(See checklist for Electrical--Wiring Design and Protection)
- Are impact tools, such as drift pins, wedges, and chisels,kept free of mushroomed heads?[29 CFR 1926.301(c)]
- Are the wooden handles of tools kept free of splintersor cracks and are they fixed tightly in the tool?[29 CFR 1926.301(d)]
- Is it prohibited to lower or hoist a tool by the cord?[29 CFR 1926.302(a)(2)]
- Do woodworking tools meet the American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI) safety codes?[29 CFR 1926.304(f)]
Pneumatic Power Tools and Hose
- Are pneumatic power tools secured to the hose orwhip by some positive means, so as to prevent thetool from being accidentally disconnected?
[29 CFR 1926.302(b)(1)]
- Are safety clips or retainers used on pneumaticimpact (percussion) tools to prevent attachmentsfrom being accidentally expelled?
[29 CFR 1910.243(b)(1) and 1926.302(b)(2)]
- Are all pneumatically driven nailers, staplers, andother similar equipment which have automaticfastener feeds and which operate at more than100 psi pressure at the tool equipped with a safetydevice on the nozzle to prevent the tool fromejecting fasteners, unless the muzzle is in contactwith the work surface?[29 CFR 1926.302(b)(3)]
- Are all compressed air hoses and hose connectionsdesigned for the pressure and service to which theyare subjected?[29 CFR 1910.243(b)(2) and 1926.302(b)(5)]
- Is it prohibited to lower or hoist tools by the hose?[29 CFR 1926.302(b)(6)]
- Do all hoses (exceeding one-half inch insidediameter) have safety devices at the source ofthe supply or branch line, to reduce pressure incase of hose failure?[29 CFR 1926.302(b)(7)]
- Are airless spray guns [of the type which atomizepaints and fluids at high pressure (1,000 poundsor more per square inch)] equipped with automaticor visible manual safety devices which preventaccidental release of paint or fluid?[29 CFR 1926.302(b)(8)]
- Are all fuel powered tools stopped while beingrefueled, serviced, or maintained?[29 CFR 1926.302(c)(1)]
- Is all fuel transported, handled, and stored inaccordance with applicable regulations?[29 CFR 1926.302(c)(1)]
- When fuel powered tools are used in enclosedspaces, are measures taken to prevent the build-upof toxic gases?[29 CFR 1926.302(c)(2)]
Comments/Corrective action: