In brief
Drills, angle grinders, screwdrivers and hammers are all work equipment within the meaning of the Regulation on Work Equipment and should be visually checked by their user before every use. Most accidents with power tools come from damaged cables, defeated earthing or sockets without residual current protection. A defective tool should be withdrawn from use immediately and repaired only by competent persons; tools employees bring from home should not be used until they are brought into the workplace's inspection system.
Why is hand tool safety a matter of equipment management?
The most used work equipment in a workshop is not the press or the CNC machine but hand tools: screwdrivers, spanner sets, hammers, chisels, box cutters, drills, angle grinders, cordless screwdrivers. Because these tools are cheap and ordinary, they often fall outside any inspection system. Yet hand tool safety should be managed with the same logic as the safety of large machines.
The Regulation on Health and Safety Requirements for the Use of Work Equipment treats every machine, tool and installation used in the workplace as work equipment. Annex III, renewed in December 2025, sets two important rules:
- Item 1.3: Work equipment is checked by its operators before every start of work; signs such as cracks, loose connections, deformation, wear and corrosion are inspected visually. Equipment showing cracks or excessive wear is taken out of use.
- Item 1.4: For equipment whose periodic inspection interval is not specified in the tables or standards, the interval set by the manufacturer applies or, failing that, a risk assessment based on workplace conditions, frequency and duration of use.
The drilling and grinding machine rows in the Annex III tables refer to standards for stationary machines; there is no separate row for hand-held power tools. This does not mean hand tools go uninspected; the inspection interval is determined by the manufacturer's instructions and the risk assessment.
Choosing the right tool: half of accidents start at purchase
The wrong tool puts even the most careful employee at risk. When choosing a tool, ask these questions:
- Is it suitable for the job? Using pliers to tighten a nut or a screwdriver as a lever is the best-known cause of tools breaking and of slips and impacts. Provide tools of the right size and type for the work to be done.
- Does it have a conformity marking and manual? Power tools fall under machinery legislation. From 20 January 2027, the new Machinery Safety Regulation (2023/1230/EU) will apply; look for the CE marking and user manual on newly purchased tools. For details, see our article on the machinery safety regulation and CE.
- What are the vibration and noise levels? Grinders, breakers and hammer drills cause hand-arm vibration. Compare the vibration and noise values in the manual; for exposure limits, see our article on the vibration regulation.
- Does it produce dust and sparks? Tools with dust extraction and the choice of suitable tools for explosive atmospheres where sparks are a risk should be assessed separately.
- Corded or cordless? Cordless tools reduce the risk of cable damage and tripping; charging the batteries, however, needs its own arrangements.
Pre-use hand tool check
The check before each use takes no more than a minute. You can post the table below on the tool cabinet door:
| Tool or part | What to look for | If there is a defect |
|---|---|---|
| Plug | Broken casing, loose pins, burn marks | Do not use; set aside for repair |
| Cable | Cuts, crushing, stripped outer sheath, taped joints | Do not use; the cable is replaced by a competent person |
| Cable entry point | Sheath pulled back where the cable leaves the body | Do not use |
| Body | Cracks, breaks, missing screws | Do not use |
| Switch and trigger | Stops when released, lock button works | Do not use |
| Guard | On grinders, disc guard in place and at the correct angle | Do not run without the guard fitted |
| Bit, disc, blade | Cracks, bluntness, suitability for the tool's speed, expiry date | Replace |
| Hand tools | Cracked handle, loose hammer head, mushroomed chisel head, splayed spanner jaws | Withdraw from use |
Power tools: cable and earthing checks
The main causes of electric shock from power tools fall under three headings:
- Cable damage: A tool's cable wears faster than the tool itself: it rubs against sharp edges, gets crushed under forklifts or doors, and is yanked along with the tool. A tape repair is not even a temporary fix; a damaged cable is replaced by a competent person. We explained who can do electrical work in our article on who can do electrical work.
- Defeated earthing: On tools with a metal body and an earthed plug (Class I), earthing provides protection when there is a fault to the body. Plugs with a broken earth pin or adapters that defeat the earth remove this protection. Double-insulated (Class II) tools are recognised by the symbol of two nested squares and do not need an earth conductor; on these tools, the integrity of the body must be maintained.
- Sockets without residual current protection: The socket the tool is plugged into being on a circuit protected by a residual current device intended to protect human life is the most important last barrier. We explained how earthing and the device work together in our article on earthing and residual current devices.
Under Annex III, the indoor electrical installation and earthing installation are inspected at least once a year by competent persons registered on EKİPNET (the Ministry's register of persons authorised for periodic inspections), unless the standards give a shorter interval. This inspection shows the safety of sockets and circuits, not the condition of individual tools. Set the interval for electrical safety tests of tools according to the manufacturer's instructions and the risk assessment; for heavily used tools working on sites and in workshops, this interval should be kept short.
The same rules apply to extension leads: when using a cable reel, the cable is fully unwound, because a coiled cable can heat up under load. If work is to be done on a damp floor or inside a metal tank or vessel, it is planned separately, assessing confined space and electrical risks together.
Drill safety and common hand tool accidents
The drill is the most common power tool in workshops, and most accidents come from skipping a few simple rules:
- Do not forget the chuck key. If the key is left in the chuck, it flies out when the drill is started.
- Secure the workpiece. Drilling a small part while holding it by hand causes the part to spin and injure the hand when the bit jams; use a vice or clamp.
- Be ready for reaction torque. A jammed bit twists the tool suddenly. Use the side handle for large-diameter holes and stand balanced.
- Consider the risk of entanglement with the rotating bit. Loose clothing, jewellery and long hair must be secured. When working with rotating equipment, the risk of a glove becoming entangled is assessed separately; for choosing suitable gloves, see our article on choosing work gloves.
- Protect your eyes. Drilling throws out swarf and fragments; wear safety glasses.
- Unplug when changing the bit. On cordless tools, remove the battery.
Disc selection, guards and kickback on angle grinders are a separate topic; for details, see our article on grinder safety.
Personal use of tools: issued tools, shared cabinets and tools from home
The least discussed aspect of hand tool safety is who the tool belongs to. There are three different arrangements, and each has different rules:
- Tools issued to individuals: A tradesman or maintenance technician is given their own set. The tool is the person's responsibility, but its inspection is still part of the workplace's system. The issue record should also include the tool's replacement date and last inspection. For tracking issued items, the method in our article on PPE issue and replacement tracking can also be applied to hand tools.
- Shared tool cabinet: With tools shared between shifts, if a defect is noticed but not reported, the next user inherits the risk. There should be a repair box and a "report a defect" system next to the cabinet.
- Tools employees bring from home: A tool brought in because "my drill is better" is equipment whose conformity, maintenance and electrical condition are unknown. Either ban such tools completely or bring them into the same inspection, tagging and record system as the workplace's tools.
Another common problem is employees repairing their own tools. Interventions such as changing a plug, shortening a cable or removing a guard should be done only by competent persons. For large equipment where energy must be isolated during repair or maintenance, lockout and tagout is applied.
Steps to set up a hand tool inspection system
- Draw up an inventory of the workshop's power tools: type, serial number, responsible person, location.
- File the maintenance and inspection recommendations in the manufacturer's instructions for each tool.
- Post the pre-use checklist on the cabinets and demonstrate it hands-on in induction training.
- Set the interval for electrical safety tests in the risk assessment and attach a dated label to each tested tool.
- Use a repair box and a "Do not use" tag for defective tools.
- Put the rule on tools brought from home in writing.
In workshops and production facilities in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, we set up inspection systems for hand tools under our OHS specialist service, and plan and track the timely completion of periodic inspections such as electrical installation and earthing by competent persons through our periodic inspection service. You can track inspection and test dates with the OHS calendar. For topics on the machine and machine tool side, see our metal and machinery page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is periodic inspection of power tools mandatory?
There is no separate row for hand-held power tools in the Annex III tables. For these tools, the inspection interval is set according to the interval given by the manufacturer or, failing that, the risk assessment. A visual check by the user before every use, however, is required by the regulation.
Can a power tool with a damaged cable be used if it is taped?
No. Tape does not safely restore insulation and hides the damage getting worse. A tool with a damaged cable is withdrawn from use and the cable is replaced by a competent person.
Should a double-insulated tool be plugged into an earthed socket?
Double-insulated tools do not need an earth conductor. However, the socket the tool is plugged into being on a circuit protected by a residual current device is an important safety measure for every tool.
Can an employee use their own drill at work?
It depends on the workplace's rules. If it is to be used, the tool must be brought into the same inspection, tagging and record system as the workplace's tools. It is safer not to allow the use of tools whose conformity and maintenance condition are unknown.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.