Tools

2.4 Tools

(a) Employers shall provide as required all power-operated and expendable tools which shall be of suitable quality and of good repair.  Employees shall act with the greatest possible responsibility in respect of the use and safe-keeping of such tools supplied by their employers.

(b) Each employee shall provide a lockable tool box and the appropriate kit of hand tools as detailed in Appendix 3.  These tools will be of suitable quality and in good repair for efficiently carrying out the work for which he is employed and shall be maintained in good condition.  Apprentices shall also provide said tools in quantity and type as indicated for the Stage(s) of Apprenticeship.

Where practicable, employers shall provide suitable lockable facilities for storing employees’ tool kits.  Employees shall be responsible for depositing and uplifting their tool kits from such lockable facilities at the appropriate opening times.

Where such lockable facilities are provided the employer will be responsible for the loss of any tool kits due to theft, provided that the theft took place when the lockable facility was locked and such theft was reported to the police.  In such cases, employers will be responsible for replacing only those tools listed in the National Working Rules.  Employers shall carry out periodic tool kit inspections to ensure that such kit or other tools provided by the employee are of suitable quality and in good repair.

(c) During working hours the employer shall be responsible for insuring operatives’ tools that are stored within a locked company vehicle.

(d) Other than (c) above, employers are not responsible for the loss or damage to the tools or personal property of employees.  All employees are advised in their own interest to insure such articles against loss.  Employees must ensure that any such loss or damage must be repaired or replaced as appropriate within a reasonable time of discovery.

Damaged or inferior quality tools must not be used by the employee.

(e) When working on or near live installations, insulated tools must be used.