Frequently Asked Questions
Following are questions often asked by our customers about
Ampco Safety Hand Tools. If you do not find the information
you are looking for, please contact us directly.
Who should be using Ampco Safety Tools?
There are many standards and recommendations that have been
published by organizations such as OSHA (Occupational Health & Safety
Administration), NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) & MSHA
(Mine Safety & Health Administration) that advise the
use of Non-Sparking tools in hazardous environments. Increasingly,
many companies are using Non-Sparking tools even when there
is no mandatory requirement as a means to reduce the risk
of fire and explosion. Anywhere there is concern about sparks
igniting flammable vapors, liquids, dusts or residues, Ampco
Safety Tools should be used in place of normal steel tools.
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How can I be certain that AMPCO Tools are safe for use
where flammable vapors, liquids or residues are present?
The Factory Mutual Research Corporation first approved Ampco
Safety Tools for use in these environments in 1937. Factory
Mutual has conducted extensive testing on the alloys used
to produce Ampco Safety Tools and concluded that they are
safe for use in even the most volatile atmospheres. Factory
Mutual is an international organization recognized by OSHA
and NFPA as a testing laboratory in scientific research and
product certification. Ampco Safety Tools complies with recognized
standards and our ongoing production is monitored for approval
requirements. Ampco Safety Tools also conforms to the recommendations
of the NFPA, MSHA and the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards).
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Can dust and residue build up cause a hazardous explosion?
There is a direct correlation between particle size and
its explosive hazard; the smaller the particle, the more
reactive the dust. As the materials become smaller, they
disperse and remain suspended in air more easily increasing
the potential for ignition. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board
recently stated, “Dust can be an insidious hazard wherever
finely divided organic materials are used. While some of
these materials might appear to present a limited fire hazard,
when suspended in air under the right conditions, these same
materials can explode with deadly consequences. Dust explosions
are a significant hazard in manufacturing operations.” AMPCO
Non-Sparking Tools should be used wherever there are flammable
or combustible dusts, powders or residues present.
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Will Ampco Safety Tools perform as well as steel tools?
It is impossible to manufacture spark resistant tools to
the same hardness as high alloy steel. However, it is not
necessary. Ampco Safety Tools are designed to perform well
for the tool use in which they were intended. As with any
hand tool, it is important to use them properly for their
intended task. For more information please see the Hand Tools
Institute’s Hand Tool Reference Chart at www.hti.org
. If an AMPCO tool breaks or fails to perform under normal
use, it will be repaired or replaced at no charge. Exceptions
include misuse or abuse or normal service wear.
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Why should I use Ampco Safety Tools instead of some other
Non-Sparking tool manufacturer?
Ampco Safety Tools has been producing Non-Sparking, Non-Magnetic,
Corrosion Resistant Hand Tools since 1922. Our extensive
knowledge of the alloys needed to produce these specialty
products coupled with decades of experience has resulted
in the highest quality tools on the market today. We offer
the largest in-house inventory and our dedicated sales staff
ensure your order is delivered on time. Ampco Safety Tools
is here to help prevent a hazardous situation from turning
into an explosive one.
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