Sparks Electrical News July 2019

CABLES AND CABLE ACCESSORIES

11

WHY TO INVEST INQUALITY TOOLS ANDWHAT SAFETYMARKS TO LOOK FOR S pend much time around professional race car mechanics and you’ll notice they tend to be fanatical about taking care of their tools. They have good reasons for that. And so do you as an How to know if your tools are not up to quality • Your tools have rust on them. • Your screwdriver frequently slips. • Your tools feel slippery when you take them out (finger oils or other contaminants left on them when put away). • You can’t find a particular tool that you use often.

When using your tools: • Have them organised on a belt, in a pouch, tray, or other system, with each tool going in its own place. This way, you can see at a glance which one you might have left on that busbar. • Inspect before use and use the right size tool for the job. • If you use an adjustable tool, position it in the correct direction. An adjustable wrench, for example, should be used with the movable jaw oriented with the direction of rotation. • Wipe each tool clean after last use (before putting away). When storing tools: • Never toss tools into a tool box. Always slide or set each tool into its proper place in the storage device (pouch, tray, etc.). • Never leave tools lying about, especially on the floor. • Always put tools away at the end of your shift or job, even if you’re working in a locked room. You need to go through the process of cleaning your tools at the end of the day and inspecting them at the beginning of it. Don’t try to save time by skipping this put-away, get-back-out cycle; the lack of organisation will actually cost you time. • Protect tools from moisture by storing them in a suitable box or other system.

electrical contractor. As with any tool purchase, you’ll get longer life and better performance from higher-quality tools. Better electrical hand tools, such as wire cutters and linesman pliers, are also insulated to help prevent shock hazards. Ryan Burger, Divisional Product Manager at HellermannTyton, notes that tool purchasing decisions usually come down to two factors, safety and cost. For an electrical contractor, who may often make decisions purely on the price, he suggests that the advantages of buying a name brand far outweigh the initial costs of cheaper tools. “It is the brand name, the support, the backing, the lifetime warranty, the expertise and the advice you get when buying a tool such as a HellermannTyton tool. We do, however, have in our catalogue a budget range, a professional

• Every tool has several uses, instead of being a single-use tool. Having a few multi- purpose tools is great, if they are designed for that purpose. But screwdrivers, though often used as multipurpose tools, are single-purpose tools. Periodically inspect your tools and look for: • Worn edges on screwdriver tips. • Worn teeth on pliers. • Dull blades on knives, strippers, and other cutting tools. Sharpen if possible; replace if not. • Loose joints on pliers or other adjustable tools. • Other signs of wear.

range, which is hardier and lasts longer, as well as specialised tools.” He also advises that electrical con- tractors always check what safety certifications the tool comes with to give them reassurance on site. “Many of our tools adhere to international safety reg- ulations, and on the daily usage side, cheaper tool are not usually as ergonomically designed as renowned brands and do not use the best materials for com- fortable use on an ongoing basis,” he says. Look out for the double triangle, GS, UL or VDE markings, for instance, when selecting a quality tool. These standards will reassure you of the level of stand- ard these tools are required to live up to, and have passed, in certification testing. On the specialised tools side, Burger notes that new to the HellermannTyton offering are anti- sparking and anti-drop tools. “These tools are pre- dominantly for large companies where safety and regulation is paramount. Users should take note of all the right safety standards that are required, but also look at the safety policies within the company, which are often of a higher standard than the ba- sic minimum standards. With that being said, what matters most for a safety officer? If it comes to a financial decision, personal injury costs, costs of tools breaking and the subsequent loss of time need to be taken into consideration. They may be able to spend 50% more on a tool that will save them twice or three times the amount of time.” He notes that the anti-sparking and anti-drop tools are more of a solution-based offering. “Many people do not realise that anti-sparking tools are available, so obviously the tools you use should fit your application; if you are going into a hazardous environment, make sure that you have the right tools with you.” The anti-sparking tools, made from aluminium bronze or copper-beryllium, have dif- ferent explosive zone ratings and are intended for use in the mining, petrochemical and gas indus- tries. The anti-drop tools are a safety prevention aid, firstly for personal protection and those who may be below you on site, but also time saving, ensuring that unnecessary time is spent retrieving tools which may have been dropped.

Safety standards

VDE Verband der Elektrotechnik is a certification mark and at- testation from one of Europe’s largest technical and scientific associations for standardi- sation of work and product testing.

ASTm-5015

Tools with double triangle are tested individually with a test Voltage of 10 000 V, highest degree of safety for working on live parts up to 1000 V.

GS (Geprufte Sicherheit) is a voluntary certification mark for technical equipment that has been tested and certified that it is compliant with German and European

safety requirements. The GS mark is based on the German Product Safety Act

Enquiries: www.hellermanntyton.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JULY 2019