Hi All,

I am trying to give our site manager's some practical advice of the use of power tools which are used very infrequently in our retail premises, but necessary nevertheless.

The reason being we had a employee badly injure their hand using an electric drill and although I can sit in my ivory tower and berate the manager for not having completed the necessary paperwork to say that the employee had been trained and authorised to use it (was not a young employee by the way), in reality I have to sympathize because how are you supposed to train someone to use an electric drill? Even more lethal power tools such as angle grinders do not come with an instructional DVD and their are no courses out there to send employees on.

Is it sufficient to have the employee read the instruction manual for such items and then trust them to get on with it as they would at home? I mean I don't hold a certificate in angle grinding or using an electric drill, but I cannot expect our managers to pay out for a contractor each time they need some minor maintenance done.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Paul

You could provide training on using power tools via a "Toolbox Talk"? I work for an engineering firm and we use these for training on all sorts of things from hand tools to ladders fixed equipment such as guillotines. As far as I'm aware your required to make sure employees are "competent" to perform a task. Competency is defined as "training, knowledge and experience..."; so, experience and knowledge are two factors some staff may already have? Training on top of this would be easy (if that's all that's required). Also, many places run an "Abrasive wheels" course for operators and setters of angle grinders (don't know if you ever do use them or it was just an example?). Its also worth considering all the implications of power tools; electrical integrity (PAT testing), cables, conditions of use (dusty or damp conditions?), PPE provision, COSHH (brick dust), SSoW's in place, etc.

Generally, I'd say experienced professionals may pick up on other hazards like live services. Around 6 years ago I was an assistant manager in a shop and we were instructed to remove a light box from a shoe wall. They didn't want to get a sparky in and my manager simply handed a colleague of ours a small tool box and said "Get rid of that light box.". If I hadn't intervened and removed the fuse from the switch, Liam would probably be dead.

Essentially; could you happily stand up in court and say "They were deemed competent because..." and "they have received all necessary training."? If you'd like some example of toolbox talks PM me an email address and I can send you a few we use?

PUWER regs 8&9 provide all the answers you require. You must provide Information and instruction and you must provide suitable training. The training must be proprotionate and I suspect that your question highlights a training need in relation to your own understanding. Using a hand drill comes under the general duties within PUWER however a hand drill is not directly comparable to an angle grinder for which additional legislation (Abrasive Wheels) clearly spells out additional training requirements. Training somone in the use of a hand drill in a "handymans" role for instance might go beyond how to use the drill and include working at height and the risks to balance while drilling, checking for hidden utilities in walls, ad infinitum depending on the circumstances.