But electric drills can be dangerous if not handled carefully. They can cause injuries in many ways—from being struck by flying drilling material, if chips of the materials being drilled are flung into the operator's eyes or if the bit punctures or bores into flesh (usually a leg), and from electric shock.
While drill injuries aren't as numerous as table saw injuries, it's clear all power tools including hand drills, circular saws and nail guns can cause serious injuries such as torn wrist muscles or severe burns.
Today, the portable power drill's widespread use also carries with it the risk of electric shock, puncture wounds, cuts, contusions from spinning/moving parts, strains from torque power, hair and clothing entanglement, contaminant inhalation, burns from hot drill bits, and eye injuries.
Potential Hazards: Exposed moving spindle and cutter. Electrical hazard with the potential to cause harm through entanglement, cutting, impact, abrasion, exposure to noise, projectiles, sharp objects, and friction.
Wear safety glasses or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles). Keep drill air vents clear to maintain adequate ventilation. Keep drill bits sharp always. Keep all cords clear of the cutting area during use.
Many accidents have been caused by tools falling from overhead, and by sharp tools carried in pockets or left in toolboxes with the cutting edges exposed.
In the process of drilling, blowouts, tripping out and swabbing, combustible gasses can exit and react with the air, a potential cause for explosions. Other common ways in which explosions can occur include: cutting or welding in proximity to combustible materials as well as detonating perforating guns above ground.
Avoid drilling near light sockets or outlets
Wires in the wall often connect vertically and horizontally behind outlets and sockets and can lead to electrocution. Hitting a pipe in the wall can cause flooding. A simple rule of thumb is to avoid drilling anywhere near where there may be electrical hookups or piping.
If your drill is smoking, it's likely the motor has overheated. Stop using the drill, and let the motor cool for at least 5 minutes. Then try again. If the motor continues to smoke, upgrade to a more powerful tool.
The heat which was accumulated in the tool during drilling of hole No. 1 resulted in drill bit temperatures which varied from 181.7 °C to 251.6 °C.
It is not uncommon to see sparks at the interface point between the carbon brush and the commutator as the motor operates. The amount of sparking will often reduce as the brushes wear in during use of the tool. Brushes do wear down to the point of needing replacement.
Puncture wounds and electrocution (caused by drilling into live wiring), as well as injuries caused by loose clothing caught in the bits are the most common injuries related to power drills.
If you're running the drill too fast, it may start making a chattering noise. This is caused by the drill bit deflecting and jumping around the hole as it's coming in contact with the part. Reducing speed will usually make the chattering go away. Sometimes you should use cutting fluid when drilling.
Types of injury by power tools
The most common type of injury was extensor tendon injuries.
Wear a dust mask when sanding, buffing or drilling.
You should wear a face mask when you are drilling since there will be dust in the air. This will prevent you from inhaling silica dust, which can lead to sickness. Even if you do not plan to drill for very long, it is best to err on the side of caution and be safe.
Offshore oil rig work is inherently dangerous, and unfortunately, fatalities do occur. According to the most-recent data from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), there were a total of 19 fatalities and 106 injuries in the offshore oil and gas industry in the United States from 2015 to 2020.
A screwdriver is the most commonly used and abused tool. The practice of using screwdrivers as punches, wedges, pinch bars, or pry pars shall be discouraged as this practice dulls blades and causes employee injury.
Hand tools may look harmless, but they are the cause of many injuries. In fact, an estimated 8 percent of all workplace, compensable injuries are caused by incidents associated with hand tools. These injuries can be serious, including loss of fingers or eyesight.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Repetitive motion, or working in awkward, strained positions can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tennis elbow (epicondylitis), bursitis, or Raynaud's syndrome (“white finger”).