The award-winning Hand Tool Institute Safety Education Program develops and distributes videos, booklets, wall charts and other safety materials and promotes hand tool safety. Here, the institute offers a few tips on safe care and keeping of your tool storage equipment.
Proper Use and Care
1. Lightly oil all moving parts such as drawers, trays and hinges at regular intervals.
2. Use graphite, not oil, on locks and padlocks.
3. Touch up all rusted spots, paying particular attention to the bottom of toolboxes.
4. Ensure that handles are firmly attached to the toolbox.
5. Drawers and trays that hold sharp-edged tools such as chisels, screwdrivers, etc. should be lined with cork, felt or scrap carpeting.
6. Set the brakes on the locking casters after you have rolled the cabinet to your work area.
7. Make sure that the wheels on tool cabinets are turning freely.
8. Keep your toolbox or chest locked when not in use.
9. Sand or file down any sharp edges that may cause damage to clothes or fingers. Such sharp edges are usually caused by dropping the tool box to the floor instead of placing it on the floor.
10. Wipe away all grease and moisture from tools before storing them in the toolbox, chest or cabinet.
11. Tool cabinets should be pushed and not pulled.
12. Close all drawers before moving a tool cabinet.
13. Push the tool cabinet not the chest.
14. Secure the tool chest to the cabinet, if possible.
15. Open only one drawer at a time.
16. Read and follow all safety messages that are affixed to, or that accompany, toolboxes.
Avoiding Abuse and Misuse
1. Never use a toolbox for an anvil, workbench, ladder or similar purpose.
2. Do not overload a tool cabinet with too many extra chests or tool trays; it may tip over.
3. Do not open more than one drawer at a time.
4. Do not move a tool cabinet before locking all drawers.
5. Do not roll a tool cabinet with loose tools or parts on top of the cabinet or with a tool chest that is not properly fastened.