Chest
Non-contact tester, clip torch, marker.
Loadout
Pouches and pocket order
Owning good tools is half the job. The other half is knowing exactly where each one is without looking.
Thigh
Strippers, pocket multimeter, tape.
Pouch
Two-pole indicator, screwdrivers, pliers, knife.
One tool, one place
The point of a pocket map is that your hand learns it. Put the same tool in the same place every day and you stop thinking. Switch things around and you will fumble at exactly the wrong moment, usually with a cable in one hand and a torch in your teeth. Pick an order, write it down if you must, and then stick to it for a month before you decide it needs changing.
The three pockets
Chest pocket: light things you grab one-handed. The non-contact tester, a clip torch and a marker. Nothing sharp, nothing heavy, and nothing that can short out against the others. Cap the tip of the tester so it does not poke through the lining.
Thigh pocket: things used on every job. Strippers, a pocket multimeter and a short length of tape. A holster-style pocket, such as the ones Snickers Workwear fit to its trousers, keeps the strippers upright with the handles up.
Pouch: tools used in sequence. Insulated screwdrivers, side cutters, pliers and a knife. The two-pole voltage indicator clips to the edge, where it is easy to reach but cannot be mistaken for the pen. A pouch from a maker like Kuny's is a typical example. Check for loops that hold screwdrivers upright and pockets that separate sharp tools.
Left or right
Put tools you use with your dominant hand on that side. Strippers go on the right for right-handed people. The torch goes on the opposite side from the strippers so your hands are never fighting for the same pocket. Left-handers simply mirror the layout. What matters is that you pick one and keep it.
What stays in the van
A pocket loadout only works if it stays light. Leave these in the van, and fetch them when the job needs them:
- Installation and insulation resistance testers.
- SDS drill, hole saws and cable rods.
- Label printer, spare conduit and fixings.
- Step ladder, extension lead and a battery charging station.
- Spare batteries, spare leads and a full screwdriver set.
A heavy pouch on a long day is a back problem in the making. If you find yourself carrying something you rarely use, move it to the van.
Working at height
Dropped tools hurt people below. At height, tether anything that matters with a tool lanyard rated for the tool's weight, and never rely on a pocket to hold a loose tool when you lean out. Your employer's working-at-height rules take priority over this page.
A 30-second check before you start
- Tester battery and function checked on a proving source.
- Probes and leads clean and undamaged.
- Torch charged, and a spare cell or cable in the van.
- Strippers sharp and set for the cable you will work on.
- Screwdriver sleeves intact and the right tip for the terminals.
- Everything back in its pocket, and nothing in a pocket that does not belong there.
Start from your kit list. Your employer or training provider may set a required tool list. Add to it, never subtract. Then take the contact tool on the home page and tell us what we missed.