Power Drills
Power drills are safe. However, always minimise the risks by reading the manufacturer’s litreature and following these basic safety steps:
1 About damaged cables
2 Finding hidden cables and pipes
3 Extra considerations for outside use
4 Correct posture
5 Screwdriver Function Safety
6 Drill-bit jamming
7 About depth gauges
8 Always switch off when changing tools
1 - About damaged cables If the cable is damaged or cut through while working, do not touch it. Being careful not to touch anything metallic, isolate the power to the tool by unplugging the power immediately. Never use a drill (or any appliance) with a damaged cable.
2 - Finding hidden cables and pipes A common, expensive and potentially very dangerous error in the home is unintentionally piercing gas or water pipes or cutting through wiring buried in walls or plaster work. Be careful of hidden electrical lines or gas and water pipes. Check the working area with a metal detector and current detector. Small versions can be bought for a reasonable price - certainly less than to re-plumb a room!
3 - Extra considerations for outside use Never use a drill in damp or rainy conditions. Connect it via a residual current circuit breaker with a triggering current of 30 mA maximum. Use only extension cables that are intended for outdoor use and are protected against splash water.
4 - Correct posture Always hold the drill firmly with two hands. Never over-stretch yourself and keep both feet firmly planted.
5 - Screwdriver Function Safety Some drills have a screwdriver setting which can be used on screws and bolts with the correct adapter. Use the torque control for screws and work with a low speed only. Always be careful with long screws in case of slippage.
6 - Drill-bit jamming If the drill bit becomes unexpectedly jammed, the high power of the drill can cause a sudden, dangerous reaction. In this case, switch off the drill immediately. Remove the drill-bit from the drill and then attempt to remove it from the hole with pliers or similar. Never try to re-connect the drill to remove a stuck drill-bit.
7 - About depth gauges The drilling depth can be set with the depth stop or gauge. Where possible use this to give added control of the total depth of hole required. NEVER use a high-speed drill for screwing.
8 - Always switch off when changing tools Before any work is performed on the drill itself remove the plug from the socket. Be careful of a hot drill-bit and drill-chuck. With long working periods, especially for impact drilling, the drill chuck can become extremely hot. In this case it is recommended that you wear protective gloves. Do not be tempted to cool the drill-bit with water - this will affect the hardness of the steel.
