Wrenches are made in various shapes and sizes and are used for gripping, fastening, turning, tightening and loosening things like pipes, pipe fittings, nuts and bolts. There are basically two major kinds of wrenches:
- Pipe wrenches used in plumbing for gripping round (cylindrical) things.
- General use wrenches used on nuts and bolts that have flat, parallel surfaces; e.g., square or hexagonal (hex).
Wrenches may be adjustable to fit different sized pipes, nuts and bolts or may be a fixed size.
What are the hazards of using wrenches?
Hazards may vary depending on the work and can include:
1.The wrench slips off of the work,
2.The work piece may suddenly break free causing you to lose balance,
3.The wrench or work piece may break, or
4.Turning the handle quickly or with pressure may create stress and strains on the hand or arm
What should I avoid doing when using wrenches?
1.Do not use push on a wrench - losing your balance is more likely if the wrench slips.
2.Do not use a wrench that is bent handle or damaged.
3.Do not use worn adjustable wrenches. Inspect the knurl, jaw, and pin for wear.
4.Do not pull on an adjustable wrench that is loosely adjusted.
5.Do not use pipe wrenches on nuts or bolts.
6.Do not use pipe wrenches for lifting or bending pipes.
7.Do not use a wrench on moving machinery.
8.Do not use the wrong tools for the job. Never use pliers instead of a wrench or a wrench as a hammer.
9.Do not use a make-shift wrench.
10.Do not insert a shim in a wrench for a better fit.
11.Do not strike a wrench (except a "strike face" wrench) with a hammer, or similar object, to gain more force.