Abstract: A tool or set of tools is provided having a heavy-duty tether permanently secured thereto, the tether being a load rated web-strapping material which may be several feet in length and is provided with hooks and rings for temporarily shortening the length of the tether without disconnecting the tool or adjusting buckles. Each hand tool is modified and tested for permanent attachment to the tether system. The tool connection and the tether's associated hardware are all load rated as a complete unit for shock loading due to the tool being dropped several feet. The tether system may also be configured to contain several hand tools on a single tether while still allowing the use of only one tool at a time without interference from the remaining tools. The tether system and its permanently attached tools are intended to be leased to workers or their employers under a maintenance agreement for the periodic repair and re-certification of the tools and the tether system as a complete unit.