Photocopy Room Hand Tools

Issue	Hazard	Solution	Check it
Staplers	Using a hand stapler with insufficient power may leave sharp points which can lacerate fingers. Removing staples with fingernails may cause broken nails and cuts to fingertips.	Provide a range of hand staplers to cover all needs, plus an electric stapler for thick documents. Provide a staple remover as standard stationery issue for employees.
Hole punches	Using hand punches to punch holes in wads of paper which are too thick for this technique. Contact with the rotating blade of an electric hole drilling machines.	Check that any electric drilling machines have blades that are sharp, and that the adjustable paper guides are in working order. Instruct employees to align and clamp paper to be drilled and check desired hole position before switching on motor to drill the hole.
Paper guillotines	Blade of guillotine falls on to the fingers or hand of the user whilst positioning paper to be cut. Blade has lost its sharpness and requires excessive force to operate.	Replace with a guillotine where cutter blade is restrained until gripped to commence cutting. Have guillotine blades inspected periodically and sharpened to ensure efficient operation.
Bodkins, needles	Forcing a bodkin or needle through a thick file of papers when point emerges suddenly.	Use an alternative method of threading documents if possible. Restrict the issue of bodkins as standard stationery items.
Scissors, knives	Inappropriate use of knife or scissors. Knife or scissors falls from workbench or high shelf.	These should be treated as items of personal stationery and not supplied as standard equipment in photocopy room.

Further Information

Regulations
Occupational Health And Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994 Reg 1.05: Hazard identification and risk assessment

Comcare Guidance Material
OHS Book 1 - Officewise

Further Information Other Guidance Material
ASCC Index of National Standards, Codes of Practice and related Guidance Notes

SHARE IT!
We want to make the 'Virtual Office' serve your needs even better by making it interactive!
We welcome your participation by drawing on your experience to add to the contents of this page.

Virtual Office is managed by the Comcare Compliance Assistance Section.

Page last updated:June 23, 2008