Drilling Risks & Safety

Last updated: 20 October 2026

Risks

Do not sample structural parts of a building without an explicit assignment and permission from the clients/owners.
Only sample in areas and in a manner that do not pose a risk of weakening the structural parts being sampled.
Avoid sampling in highly visible areas as much as possible; instead, look for suitable drilling locations that are less conspicuous.

Ensure a safe workplace that complies with occupational health and safety (ARBO) regulations.
When drilling, you need both hands, so you must be able to stand safely.
Ensure fall protection when working at high drilling locations or when working on stairs, in attics, and in towers, for example.
Make sure that no pipes, cables, or other utilities can be hit while drilling. Always check the back of the object being sampled as well.

Wear safety shoes and a helmet. Wear tight-fitting safety goggles and hearing protection.
Never handle the drill bit without gloves. Not only the cutting edges but also the flutes can be sharp.
Never grab a spinning drill bit, even when wearing gloves.
To remove the drill core from the bit, the bit must be removed from the drill machine, and the adapter (the connector between the drill bit and the machine) must be loosened using two wrenches. The drill core can then easily be pushed out of the bit using the ejector rod.
Incorrect use, such as applying lateral force or ‘leaning’ on the drill, can cause it to break. The fractured edges are highly dangerous. Therefore, always ensure the drilling movement is strictly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the drill bit itself.
Insufficient clearance of drilling dust or drilling with a dull bit leads to unnecessary friction and heat, and reduces the rigidity of the drill shaft.

Do not let the drill bit ‘rub’ unnecessarily in the drill hole.
Remove the drill from the hole immediately at the slightest sign of smoke.
Smoke generation is always the result of either a dull drill bit or an incorrect drilling technique.