The Tool Talk

When making things, we need to make sure we're doing it safely and with the right tools. Before I started this course, I rarely used tools for anything. Since I started, I've been getting to know different tools, and have even begun incorporating them into my own programming.

In Forest School, we use a method called the Tool Talk. This can be used to brief participants on safe tool use, as well as to test their knowledge of the correct uses, maintenance and safety precautions for using various tools. It's also a good way to help participants realise the risks present in a Forest School setting, and for them to take responsibility for their own safety, as well as the safety of others.

Using tools can be a risky business, but it's important to do a risk benefit analysis and to understand all of the ways that participants can benefit from using tools. The risks include:

-blunt force trauma

-minor and major injuries

-environmental damage

But benefits can include:

-increased safety skills

-pride in activity and accomplishment

-increased motor skills

-learning responsibility

-problem-solving

-heightened self-esteem

Control methods that we need to have in place may include:

-a blood zone - a distance of two arms and a tool between the person using the tool and anyone else, to prevent accidental injury

-adequate supervision

-glove use where necessary, which is most of the time, except on the hand holding a swinging tool (i.e. a mallet or billhook)

-regular tool maintenance and keeping them sharp to avoid slips

-having a qualified first aider and all necessary first aid kit

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We'll begin with my go-to tool, so compact, yet so useful... the secateurs!

note: secateurs is just a fancy-sounding word for pruning shears. I held off buying secateurs for months because I thought it was something fancy and elusive until I saw them in the middle of Lidl and realised they were just normal pruning shears.

Now, for the Tool Talk:

These are my secateurs.

The handle is labelled.

The blade is labelled.

There is no blade cover as the cutting edge isn't exposed when closed and locked.

The cutting edge is labelled.

I use this tool for cutting things (like sticks) which are thinner than 1 inch.

When I use this tool I make sure I am two arms and a tool away from everyone else except my partner or people I am working with.

I wear a glove on the hand that holds the wood. I can also wear a glove on the hand that holds the tool if I want.

I hold it by the handle.

I walk with it in the locked position and with the blade facing downwards.

I pass it handle first.

When I am not using it, I make sure the secateurs are closed and locked.

I put it down on the ground with the handle to the front and the blade facing towards me.

When I have finished with it, I put it back in the tool box or bag.

This is my mallet.

The handle is labelled.

There is no blade.

There is no blade cover.

There is no cutting edge, although you hit things with the black rubber bit.

I use this tool for gaining extra strength when hitting another tool, such as for leverage when a knife is being used to split another piece of wood.

When I use this tool I make sure I am two arms and a tool away from everyone else except my partner or people I am working with.

I wear a glove on the hand that holds the wood. I should not wear a glove on the hand that holds the mallet, as it is a swinging tool. (note - in the picture I am wearing a glove on the hand that holds the mallet as I was also using a knife, and the gloves had good grip).

I hold it by the handle.

I walk with it with the rubber head facing down.

I pass it handle first.

When I am not using it, I hold it or store it carefully.

I put it down on the ground with the handle to the front and the head facing towards me.

When I have finished with it, I put it back in the tool box or bag.

This is my billhook.

The handle is labelled.

The blade is labelled.

The blade cover isn't pictured, but it was there, and should be put on when the tool is not in use.

The cutting edge is labelled.

I use this tool for removing small branches along a larger branch, to smooth it out more quickly and smoothly than I would with secateurs.

When I use this tool I make sure I am two arms and a tool away from everyone else except my partner or people I am working with.

I wear a glove on the hand that holds the wood. I can also wear a glove on the hand that holds the tool if I want. (note - in the picture I am not wearing gloves, but I was using the tool in a supervised Forest School setting that didn't require gloves for the activity).

I hold it by the handle.

I walk with it with the blade cover on and the blade facing downwards.

I pass it handle first.

When I am not using it, I make sure the blade is covered, and it is held or stored securely.

I put it down on the ground with the handle to the front and the blade facing towards me.

When I have finished with it, I put it back in the tool box or bag.

This is my folding saw.

The handle is labelled.

The blade is labelled.

There is no blade cover as the cutting edge isn't exposed when closed and locked.

The cutting edge is labelled.

I use this tool for cutting things (like sticks) which are thicker than 1 inch, or too thick to be cut by secateurs or loppers. In this picture I am using it to coppice a willow tree.

When I use this tool I make sure I am two arms and a tool away from everyone else except my partner or people I am working with.

I wear a glove on the hand that holds the wood. I can also wear a glove on the hand that holds the tool if I want. (note - in the picture I am not wearing gloves, but I was using the tool in a supervised Forest School setting that didn't require gloves for the activity).

I hold it by the handle.

I walk with it in the locked position and with the blade facing downwards.

I pass it handle first.

When I am not using it, I make sure it is folded and locked.

I put it down on the ground with the handle to the front and the blade facing towards me.

When I have finished with it, I put it back in the tool box or bag.

This is my knife.

The handle is labelled.

The blade is labelled.

The blade cover isn't pictured, but it was there, and should be put on when the tool is not in use.

The cutting edge is labelled.

I use this tool for wittling. I could also use it to cut things like ropes to the correct size.

When I use this tool I make sure I am two arms and a tool away from everyone else except my partner or people I am working with.

I wear a glove on the hand that holds the wood. I can also wear a glove on the hand that holds the tool if I want.

I hold it by the handle.

I walk with it with the blade cover on and the blade facing downwards.

I pass it handle first.

When I am not using it, I make sure it is covered, and held or stored safely.

I put it down on the ground with the handle to the front and the blade facing towards me.

When I have finished with it, I put it back in the tool box or bag.

These are my loppers.

The handle is labelled.

The blade is labelled.

There is no blade cover as the blade is not exposed when closed and locked.

The cutting edge is labelled.

I use this tool for cutting branches and sticks that are too thick to be cut by secateurs but don't require a saw.

When I use this tool I make sure I am two arms and a tool away from everyone else except my partner or people I am working with.

I wear a glove on the hand that holds the wood. I can also wear a glove on the hand that holds the tool if I want.

I hold it by the handle.

I walk with it closed and locked and the blade facing downwards.

I pass it handle first.

When I am not using it, I make sure it is closed and locked, and held or stored safely.

I put it down on the ground with the handle to the front and the blade facing towards me.

When I have finished with it, I put it back in the tool box or bag.

This is my bow saw.

The handle is labelled.

The blade is labelled.

The blade cover is labelled. Ideally it should be placed further away so that it doesn't get in the way of the cutting.

The cutting edge is labelled.

I use this tool for cutting branches and sticks that are too thick to be cut by secateurs and loppers.

When I use this tool I make sure I am two arms and a tool away from everyone else except my partner or people I am working with. A bow saw is often used with two people pulling on either end of the handle, for extra strength. You must be very careful when doing this and communicate clearly with everybody.

I wear a glove on the hand that holds the wood. I can also wear a glove on the hand that holds the tool if I want.

I hold it by the handle.

I walk with it covered and the blade facing downwards.

I pass it handle first.

When I am not using it, I make sure it is covered, and held or stored safely.

I put it down on the ground with the handle to the front and the blade facing towards me.

When I have finished with it, I put it back in the tool box or bag.

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I don't often use a lot of tools in programmes that I run, because I own a limited number of tools, and because some of the organisations I've run sessions with don't allow tool use, but I did use secateurs during the Teva Purim Basket Making event. Participants were provided with gloves, and briefed on the safe use of secateurs. I then provided adequate supervision while they were being used. The secateurs were used to forage ivy in a way that was safe for the participants and caused minimal harm to the plant. They were also used to trim the ends and tidy the baskets afterwards.

Tool Maintenance:

Tools need to be regularly maintained to keep them in good condition. This is important as maintained tools are safe tools, and we also want to keep them in good condition so we can keep using them for many years.

Sharp tools are actually safer for us to use, as they are less likely to slip and cause accidental cuts. Rusty tools are also a big risk, as they can jam, cause additional cuts (with the added risk of tetanus), and are also less effective.

After use, tool blades should be wiped clean, ideally with a designated cloth. The blades should be fully dry before putting away, to reduce chance of rust. The blades can also be gently oiled to help keep them rust free.

Blades should be regularly checked for sharpness, to ensure that they are in the safest condition. You should be looking for a clear cutting edge, with no nicks or breaks in the reflection of light on the blade. The blade can be sharpened with a whetstone. It should be soaked in water before use, and then used to sharpen both sides of the cutting edge, in a smooth motion away from you. The blade should be thoroughly dried before being put away to avoid rust.