Construction Tools, Equipment and Safe Handling
Domain 3 covers Construction Tools, Equipment and Safe Handling: identifying a tool from its use, choosing the right one, and stating the safe practice for powered equipment.
Hand tools and their use
- Mason's trowel - laying and spreading mortar and bricks; gauging trowel - small mixes; filling trowel - pointing.
- Wooden float - rubbing plaster before setting; steel float - smooth, hard finish.
- Plumb bob - checking verticality; spirit level - checking horizontality; mason's square - 90° corners.
- Line and pins (nylon line) - keeping courses straight and level.
- Bolster and club hammer - cutting bricks and concrete; cold chisel - chipping.
- Spade/phawda, pickaxe, mortar pan, wheelbarrow, sieve, measuring box (300 × 300 × 380 mm).
Equipment
Concrete mixer (drum type), needle or poker vibrator, plate compactor, cube moulds (150 mm), dumpy level and staff, scaffolding, ladder, hoist.
Safe handling rules
Inspect handles and wires before use; do not lift beyond the rated capacity; earth the mixer and use an ELCB; keep guards on belts and gears; switch off before cleaning the drum; carry tools with points down; never throw tools or materials from height; stack pipes and bars so they cannot roll; keep the cutting area clear of others.
Worked example
A team must finish an internal 12 mm plaster. Reasoning: gauging trowel for small patches, mason's trowel to apply, wooden float to level, steel float last for a smooth finish, plumb bob and spirit level to check, and a straight edge to rule off. Using a steel float first over-works the surface and causes crazing.
Traps
- Swapping the functions of plumb bob and spirit level.
- Using a trowel to measure instead of the standard measuring box.
- Running a mixer without earthing or with the belt guard removed.