Missing tools: Responses
Randy McFarland
Description
Collection
Title:
Missing tools: Responses
Creator:
Randy McFarland
Date:
7/22/2003
Text:
Original Question:
Has anyone come up with a solution to the missing tool dilemma in your
shop? Does anyone lockup their tools or require employees to purchase
their own tools or to pay for tools they lose? I'd like to hear if there
are policies in place that are effective to combat this, not just
theories. Thanks,
Randy McFarland
Sunny Hills Orthopedic Services
Fullerton, CA
RESPONSES: (Thanks to all respondents)
I use to mark each tool for location and place different colored tapes
for each bench set to designate to who and where they belong.
One of my clients put in a clandestine video monitoring system - all
thieving stopped
they look like fire alarms and log on a pc
From what I have seen the best way is to issue the craftsman tool
bin/organizers. Start everyone out with the basic tools and inventory
sheet like we did during the short courses at UCLA, NYU, and
NORTHWESTERN. Specialty tools can stay at fabrication area sites for
specialty work, i.e. upper extremity, prosthetic hydraulic knee area
site, plastic welder site, prosthetic valve hole trimmers, etc. That
way people know there is no reason to borrow a tool because everyone has
a basic set. Obviously some people will have more than others if they
are using some of their own tools, no big deal. The outside clinic bag
or hospital case should have its own basic tools.
We have a list of tools supplied to the tech, we inventory them with the
employee and he signs for them, at the end of his employment he must
return them, if not he buys them to replace or it comes out of last
check. All tools are marked so he can tell his from others.
I would not suggest locking up the tools. Just the fact that they are
stored close to someone's bench or next to a work bench is enough to
tell others to keep their own tools stored properly. They do not lock
the individual units, but having a drawer closed or lid is plenty secure
to make some ask another for a tool before they take it.
Come on Randy---we all know and are familiar with the phenomenon of lab
tool sprouting legs and wandering off! To date there is no known
remedy.
First question. Do you have a cleaning company come after hours to clean
the Lab? We were losing inventory and tools from one of our offices and
came to discover that the five finger discounts were coming from them,
and not our staff. Otherwise we don't have that problem. We emphasize
honesty and integrity here. If either one of those are breached....They
are fired: period! You may have to set an example by capturing this
thief and firing him to show your staff that you mean business. There
are people out there that can come in after hours and set up a hidden
camera in the lab area that no one knows about (hidden camera) and then
you would have evidence in case you are sued by the thief.
We purchased a locking Sears toolbox (with drawer) for each bench and
had each tech put plasitzote in each drawer of the toolbox with a cutout
for each tool so each tool has its own place. At a glance, the tech can
recognize when a tool is missing. Co workers feel less tempted to borrow
a tool from this box than a bench top. The missing tool problem has
dramatically decreased.
Has anyone come up with a solution to the missing tool dilemma in your
shop? Does anyone lockup their tools or require employees to purchase
their own tools or to pay for tools they lose? I'd like to hear if there
are policies in place that are effective to combat this, not just
theories. Thanks,
Randy McFarland
Sunny Hills Orthopedic Services
Fullerton, CA
RESPONSES: (Thanks to all respondents)
I use to mark each tool for location and place different colored tapes
for each bench set to designate to who and where they belong.
One of my clients put in a clandestine video monitoring system - all
thieving stopped
they look like fire alarms and log on a pc
From what I have seen the best way is to issue the craftsman tool
bin/organizers. Start everyone out with the basic tools and inventory
sheet like we did during the short courses at UCLA, NYU, and
NORTHWESTERN. Specialty tools can stay at fabrication area sites for
specialty work, i.e. upper extremity, prosthetic hydraulic knee area
site, plastic welder site, prosthetic valve hole trimmers, etc. That
way people know there is no reason to borrow a tool because everyone has
a basic set. Obviously some people will have more than others if they
are using some of their own tools, no big deal. The outside clinic bag
or hospital case should have its own basic tools.
We have a list of tools supplied to the tech, we inventory them with the
employee and he signs for them, at the end of his employment he must
return them, if not he buys them to replace or it comes out of last
check. All tools are marked so he can tell his from others.
I would not suggest locking up the tools. Just the fact that they are
stored close to someone's bench or next to a work bench is enough to
tell others to keep their own tools stored properly. They do not lock
the individual units, but having a drawer closed or lid is plenty secure
to make some ask another for a tool before they take it.
Come on Randy---we all know and are familiar with the phenomenon of lab
tool sprouting legs and wandering off! To date there is no known
remedy.
First question. Do you have a cleaning company come after hours to clean
the Lab? We were losing inventory and tools from one of our offices and
came to discover that the five finger discounts were coming from them,
and not our staff. Otherwise we don't have that problem. We emphasize
honesty and integrity here. If either one of those are breached....They
are fired: period! You may have to set an example by capturing this
thief and firing him to show your staff that you mean business. There
are people out there that can come in after hours and set up a hidden
camera in the lab area that no one knows about (hidden camera) and then
you would have evidence in case you are sued by the thief.
We purchased a locking Sears toolbox (with drawer) for each bench and
had each tech put plasitzote in each drawer of the toolbox with a cutout
for each tool so each tool has its own place. At a glance, the tech can
recognize when a tool is missing. Co workers feel less tempted to borrow
a tool from this box than a bench top. The missing tool problem has
dramatically decreased.
Citation
Randy McFarland, “Missing tools: Responses,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/221460.
