Because these are the type of tools which are SMALL, important, easy to break/strip, and not always cheap (hello, did you order a Maillard french freewheel tool off of the internet because they are super hard to find???) we DO keep ours in a closed bin on the table with our vices.
Bottom bracket tools are actually kept in our special tool area at the front of the shop because if people can grab stuff they are more likely to break it :( Hell even volunteer who do know how to use these tools properly still abuse and break them.
I guess generally we expect that volunteer will determine what tool is required for a repair and retrieve and explain it, rather than people figuring it out/finding it for themselves....
NOT THE ANSWER YOU WANTED SORRY JOSH!!!!
Ainsley.