An electrical worker's side cutting pliers should never be used as a ______.

Side cutting pliers are specifically designed for cutting wire and other materials, and their design does not lend itself to being an effective or safe substitute for a hammer. Hammers are intended to deliver impact force, while the handles and jaws of side cutting pliers are not constructed to handle the stress of striking objects. Using pliers to hammer could result in damage to the tool itself, as well as pose a risk of injury to the user or damage to the material being struck.

While side cutting pliers could theoretically be misused for holding, cutting, or even the lighter work of scissors, such actions deviate from their intended use and can be performed with other tools that are specifically made for those purposes. However, the misuse as a hammer is particularly problematic due to the inherent safety risks and inefficiency, making it crucial to avoid using side cutting pliers in that manner.