For electricians, health and safety at work goes far beyond a hard hat and high vis vest – John Dabb, Sales and Marketing Director at Hyde, looks at the kind of tools that wholesalers should be taking stock of…
There are many health and safety considerations to take into account when working with electricity, and just as the installer needs to take the appropriate steps to ensure they carry out a safe job in safe way, the electrical wholesaler also has a duty of care to offer customers tools and equipment that meet the relevant safety standards.
Perhaps one of the more obvious safety considerations for electricians is the issue of torque. Loose electrical connections can cause arcing, while over tightening can cause the screw to cut through the wire and damage the connection. The 17th Edition Wiring Regulations therefore require installers to check torque settings for connection tightness to ensure safety. Some electricians attempt to get around this problem by using a torque measurer, but the reliability of this method is open to question.
When purchasing a torque driver installers should always look for the VDE trademark, symbolising that the tool has the necessary insulation to make it safe to use on electrical parts. Alongside this there should also be a voltage limit, which indicates the voltage that the tool is safe to work with. As a general rule of thumb, electricians should opt for torque tools that have been tested and guaranteed to insulate to 1000V AC as standard.
Most adjustable torque screwdrivers allow the torque to be set to any value within a range and all have a torque-limiting clutch that disengages once the pre-set torque has been reached. With so many driver options available to suit all types of work, from digital, analogue and variable torque handles through to the various blade and tip options, wholesalers would do well to offer a dedicated torque driver set which will ensure every situation is covered.
Electricians’ tools do, of course, need to offer a good level of insulation to ensure safety, which often means that they are bulky, and won’t fit into the space or hole housing the screw. Some electricians attempt to get around this problem by stripping back the insulation in order to achieve the perfect fit – a far from perfect solution that could actually be potentially fatal. A safer alternative is to use a specially designed tool that is VDE insulated, yet slim enough to fit in even the tightest of fixings.
Tool ergonomics
But simply choosing a VDE approved screwdriver or pair of pliers to guard against electric shocks isn’t enough to protect their health and safety while at work.
Tightening and untightening screws can cause enormous strain on an electrician’s hands and wrists, and can even lead to costly time off. This is why an ergonomically designed screwdriver can help electricians work more efficiently and put far less strain on their health.
Using ergonomically designed hand tools not only has a positive effect on an installer’s hands, it can also reduce back and joint pain and increase health and safety levels in the workplace. Wholesalers should therefore consider stocking hand tools that have been ergonomically designed, as they can go much further than simply preventing a few blisters; they can help reduce the amount of sick leave through damaged joints, muscles and tendons.
Wiha fastening tools, for example, feature an ergonomic handle size, aiming to ensure more comfortable, longer and above all pain-free work for users. This was scrupulously tested by a team of doctors and professional therapists who awarded the brand’s SoftFinish, SoftFinish electric, MicroFinish and SoftFinish ESD handles the AGR (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. – German Campaign for Healthier Backs) seal of distinction.
The AGR promotes and researches the prevention of back pain, offering recommendations on products that help to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and back pain.
Hand tools are vital pieces of any electrician’s kit, but with safety and efficiency the watchwords of the industry, not just any old tools will do, so stocking the latest innovations from quality brands will help wholesalers set their stall out as a hand tool specialist and can be used to generate fast sales, easy turnover and a loyal customer base.
