FACTS

Primary hazards and types of injuries associated with manual and powered hand tools.

1. Cuts and Lacerations

• • Powered Tools: Electric or gas-powered tools like chainsaws can cause severe cuts and amputations if safety guards are not used or if the operator loses control.

2. Eye Injuries

• • Flying Debris: Both manual and powered tools can eject debris such as wood chips.

3. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

• • Vibration Exposure: Powered tools like chainsaws and trimmers can cause Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), which affects circulation and nerve function in the hands and arms.

4. Burns and Electric Shocks

• • Hot Surfaces: Tools with engines or motors can have hot surfaces that cause burns.

5. Hearing Damage

• • Noise Exposure: Powered tools produce high noise levels, leading to hearing damage over time.

6. Puncture Wounds and Bruises

• • Manual Tools: Spades, forks, and other digging tools can cause puncture wounds and bruises.

STATS

• In 2018, there were approximately 31,350 injuries reported due to non-powered hand tools, which is nearly three times the number of injuries caused by powered hand tools.
• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported around 205,000 injuries involving the wrist, hand, and fingers that required time away from work. This corresponds to a rate of 29.6 incidents per 10,000 full-time workers across all private industries
• In the USA, power tools are responsible for approximately 960,000 injuries annually. About 200 fatalities each year are caused by power tool accidents
• Injuries from manual tools such as hammers and screwdrivers have increased by 2.44% since 2018.
• In Canada, males aged 18 to 64 account for over 48% of hospitalizations due to injuries from power tools. Females aged 65 to 84 also see a high rate of injuries, primarily due to inexperience with these tools.