Safe Handling of Portable Power Drills Stats and Facts

FACTS

The electric drill has significant potential hazards that may maim or kill the electric drill user.

Cords. A large number of drills now are cordless, running on battery power instead of relying on electrical outlets. Some heavy duty models, still require users to plug the drill into an electrical outlet. If an electric drill user doesn’t watch his step or how the cord is moving as he works, he trips and fall on the cord or pull other equipment down by accident.

Electrocution. Electric drills, even those that are battery operated, still function via an electrical charge. Drill users may get a potentially deadly shock if they use a drill with a frayed or improperly grounded cord, or if they use a drill that has a worn motor.

Debris. An electric drill can propel debris in many directions with high velocity. Small particles like sawdust can fly into the eyes and cause irritation.

Puncture. Punctures of skin and tissue is a leading hazard with electric drills. Punctures can happen due to debris, but they also can happen any time that the user loses control of the drill or drill bit.

Fire. If an electric drill is improperly wired or plugged in, or if the drill is worn, it may be incapable of handling the electrical current that flows through it. Even if the user does not get shocked, the heat generated by the electrical current may ignite a fire.

Disease. Electric drills work in a number of unsanitary environments–bits enter multiple materials, any one of which could carry pathogens, and then the user handles these bits.

STATS

• Powered Drills accidents result in 29,000 emergency room department visits per year in the U.S., including workers and non-workers.
• A survey by NCBI shows that the average age of people who got hurt is 53.2 years.
• Males suffer from more power tool injuries than females.
• Compared to the staggering number of people injured in accidents involving power tools each year—900,000—the 5,800 injuries caused by power drills seems almost minuscule.
• Hospital admission rates were highest for patients aged >60 years.
• Among the 200 patients interviewed, lapses in concentration during use, and modification and inappropriate use of a power tool were the main contributors to injury.
• Powered drills may need further evaluation. This product was associated with a high percentage of maximum addressable injuries (79% of injuries and 5 of 6 deaths).