Page 60 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

The City & Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1

● disconnect the power supply before making adjustments or changing
accessories such as blades and drill bits
● remove adjusting tools before turning on the tool
● inspect the cord for fraying or other damage before each use
● tag defective tools clearly with an ‘out of service’ tag and replace
immediately with a tool in good running order
● use clamps, a vice or other device to hold and support the piece being
worked on, when practical to do so; this will allow you to use both hands for
better control of the tool and will help prevent injuries if a tool jams
● use only approved extension cords that have the proper size flex for the
length of cord and power requirements of the electric tool that you are
using; this will prevent the cord from overheating
● fully unwind any extension cable being used; a coiled extension cable is likely
to overheat, which could cause a fire
● for outdoor work, use outdoor extension cords marked ‘w-a’ or ‘w’
● suspend power cords over aisles or work areas to eliminate tripping hazards
● pull the plug, not the cord, when unplugging a tool; pulling the cord causes
wear, and may adversely affect the wiring to the plug and cause electrical
shock to the operator
● keep the work area free of clutter and debris that could be a tripping or
slipping hazard
● keep power cords away from heat, water, oil, sharp edges and moving parts;
these can damage the insulation and cause a shock
● ensure that cutting tools such as drill bits and blades are kept sharp, clean
and well maintained
● store tools in a dry, secure location when they are not being used.

Battery-powered cordless tools

In recent years, the use of battery-powered cordless tools such as drills and jig
saws has become widespread both on construction sites and in domestic use.
Voltages tend to be from 9 V to 36 V. Cordless tools offer many benefits over
their mains-powered cousins:

● often the tools are smaller and lighter, giving greater flexibility of use
● no extension cables to cause trip hazards
● much less risk from electric shock.

On the downside:
● the power packs tend to wear out quickly and are costly to replace
● most are not as powerful as their mains counterparts
● power packs require constant recharging
● there is still an electric shock risk from the battery charger.

Cordless tools are still subject to health and safety inspection and testing with
regard to:

● PAT testing of the battery charger
● disposal of spent battery packs in line with local authority guidelines as they
contain nickel-cadmium and should not be disposed of in domestic waste

48

9781510416482.indb 48 29/03/19 8:50 PM