Specialist Tools, Equipment and Safety
Choosing the right tool for the job and staying safe: hand tools, machinery and computer-aided manufacture, matched to the material and task, and the protective equipment and guards that match each hazard.
Justify the choices, the way you are assessed
Free interactive practice on the decisions the assessment actually asks you to justify.
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The right tool, used safely
A workshop is full of tools, from a simple hand file to a computer-controlled cutter, and part of being a good designer is picking the right one and using it without getting hurt. This module works through hand tools, machinery and computer-aided manufacture, how to choose between them, and the safety measures that match each hazard.
Tool words to know
Learn these before you switch on a machine.
Hand tools against machinery
Each suits a different kind of job.
Match the tool, match the safety
In the exam, match the tool to the material and the task, then tie each safety measure to its exact hazard. Choose a hand tool for small, precise work and machinery or CAM for speed and repeatability. For safety, do not just say wear goggles, say why: eye protection stops sharp bits flung out by a drill, a guard keeps hands clear of a spinning blade, and a mask keeps fine dust out of the lungs. Protect yourself and the people around you.
Match the term
- hand tool
- machinery
- computer-aided manufacture
- personal protective equipment
- a tool powered by the user
- a powered machine for cutting or shaping
- a machine cutting to a digital design
- gear worn to prevent injury
Match the hazard
- sharp chips flying from a drill
- a fast-moving cutting blade
- fine dust in the air
- very loud machinery
- wear safety goggles
- fit a machine guard
- wear a dust mask
- wear ear defenders
Why wear goggles at the drill?
Why must you wear goggles when using a pillar drill?
- To protect the eyes from flying chips
- To keep the hands warm
- To make the drill run faster
- To measure the size of the hole
True about tools and safety
Select the TWO true statements about specialist tools and safety.
- Computer-aided manufacture uses a machine to cut to a digital design
- A guard keeps hands away from a moving blade
- Protective equipment is only for the person watching, not the worker
- Hand tools are always faster than machinery
Count the guards needed
A workshop has 8 machines, and each machine needs 2 guards fitted to it. Multiply the number of machines by the guards per machine to find the total number of guards needed. What is the answer?
Order the safe-working steps
Put the steps of working safely with a machine in order, earliest first.
- Choose the right tool for the material and task
- Put on the correct protective equipment
- Check the guards are in place
- Use the tool carefully and safely
Complete the rules
A tool powered by the user is a _____ tool. A powered machine that cuts or shapes material is _____. Cutting to a digital design by machine is called _____. Protective gear worn to prevent injury is _____.
Spot the protective equipment
Tap the TWO pieces of personal protective equipment.
- safety goggles
- a dust mask
- a guard fitted to a machine
- a design drawn on a computer
Choose the safe answer
Read each case and choose the best answer.
- You are cutting metal on a machine that throws off tiny sharp chips. Which safety measure matters most?
- A designer wants a shape cut out quickly and identically many times over. Which is best?
- Why fit a guard to a moving saw blade?
Explain tools and safety
Explain how to choose specialist tools and work safely in a workshop.
- Explain the difference between hand tools, machinery and computer-aided manufacture
- Explain how to choose the right tool for a material and task
- Explain two safety measures and the exact hazard each one guards against