Tools, Equipment, and Machinery Safety

Safe use of tools, equipment, and machinery is essential in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and career technical education instructional spaces. Hand tools, power tools, and specialized equipment can support meaningful hands-on learning, but they may also present hazards such as cuts, punctures, burns, eye injuries, entanglement, electrical shock, dust exposure, and impact injuries. All activities involving tools, equipment, or machinery should be preceded by a hazard analysis and risk assessment, and students should receive explicit instruction and supervision before use.

Tools, equipment, and machinery should be used only for their intended purpose and in accordance with manufacturer instructions, district procedures, and applicable safety requirements. Educators should review operating manuals, required personal protective equipment (PPE), inspection procedures, emergency shut-off procedures, and maintenance requirements before equipment is used for instruction. Students should not modify tools, remove guards, bypass safety features, improvise repairs, or use equipment without teacher authorization.

Before use, tools and equipment should be inspected for damage, wear, missing parts, loose connections, frayed cords, dull blades, or other unsafe conditions. Damaged, defective, or malfunctioning tools should be clearly labeled “Out of Service” and removed from use until repaired or replaced by qualified personnel. Tools should be stored properly after use and should never be thrown, carried in pockets, or left where they may create a puncture, trip, or fall hazard.

When using hand tools, students should keep hands, tools, and work surfaces clean and free of oil or grease. Sharp tools should be carried with points and cutting edges protected, transported in toolboxes, tool belts, sheaths, or other appropriate carriers, and used in a manner that directs cutting motion away from the body. Cutting tools should be kept sharp and maintained, and impact tools with damaged or mushroomed heads should be removed from service.

Power tools and machinery require additional safeguards. Workpieces should be secured with clamps, vises, or other approved holding devices so that students can maintain control and keep hands away from cutting, grinding, drilling, or moving parts. Machine guards, shields, emergency shut-off switches, and other safety devices must remain in place and operational. Equipment should be disconnected or powered down when not in use, during adjustments, or before cleaning, maintenance, or blade changes, consistent with local procedures.

Instructional spaces should be arranged to reduce trip, slip, entanglement, and exposure hazards. Cords, cables, hoses, and materials should be kept organized and away from walking paths whenever possible. Activities that produce dust, fumes, chips, sparks, or debris should use appropriate ventilation, dust collection, shielding, or containment. Students and adults should wear PPE identified through the hazard analysis, including appropriate eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, aprons, respiratory protection, or other equipment when required. Work should stop if PPE becomes ineffective, damaged, fogged, loose, or otherwise unsafe, and should resume only after the concern has been corrected.