Every year, many work-place accidents are attributed to defective tools. Although workers may be trained to follow safety procedures; if ladders have broken rungs, hand tools come without safety devices, or nail guns lack safety features and lock mechanisms, there is little that can be done to prevent an accident and resulting injuries.

Ladders:

Ladders are the one of the most basic pieces of equipment used in the work place and contribute to many accidents. Broken rungs, cracked rungs, and broken railings can all catch a worker off-guard. A ladder may also lack anti-slip tractioning necessary to hold it firm on a smooth surface. Also, extendable ladders often come with complicated mechanisms for both setting up and collapsing the ladder, exposing hands and fingers to crushing injuries. Some ladders tend to collapse all at once, raising the potential for injuries.

Generators:

Because electricity is so necessary for the operation of a construction project, generators can be found on almost every construction site. When used in enclosed spaces, like tool sheds, generators can emit carbon monoxide fumes and pose a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators are also susceptible to overheating, posing a risk of fire and burn hazards. Damaged or easily detachable fuel tank lids can leak or spill, increasing the potential for fire or explosion.

Nail guns:

Due to the large number of injuries they are responsible for, nail guns have received a lot of attention in recent years. Every year thousands of people are rushed to emergency rooms with puncture wounds, eye, face, and head injuries as a result of nail gun accidents. Nails shoot from these guns at extremely high speeds and the resulting injuries are very similar to those sustained in gun shot accidents. Research has shown that the operation mechanisms of most nail guns are partly to blame for many accidents.

Dangerous power tools:

Chain saws, table saws, shapers, chordless drills, electric staplers, belt sanders, lathes, routers, and other tools can malfunction in the absence of adequate safety mechanisms.