Protect your most important tools

Make the right moves to protect hands, fingers and wrists from injuries

Your and other workers’ hands are the most important “tools” on a jobsite, yet more than 250,000 people suffer serious and often disabling hand injuries each year.

The first step in avoiding these injuries is to recognize the hazards, reports the Texas Department of Insurance’s division of workers’ compensation. By recognizing hazards, following established safety guidelines and using protective guards, shields and personal protective equipment, many hands and fingers can be saved from injury and disability.

Recognizing hand hazards
One of the most serious, yet common causes of hand injuries is the use of unprotected or faulty machinery or equipment. Failure to use push sticks, guards and kill switches, or not following lock out/tag out procedures, are among the leading hand injury hazards.

Wearing jewelry, gloves or loose-fitting clothing around moving parts can also lead to injury. Chemicals, corrosives and other irritating substances can cause burns and skin inflammation without hand protection.

Temperature extremes and electrical hazards are other common causes of hand injuries. In addition, constant repetitive motion can cause undue stress on the wrists.

Eliminate and control hazards
When planning your work day, employers and workers should complete a job safety analysis (JSA) (see How to conduct a job safety analysis) to identify the hazards in each phase of the job.

For example, improper hand and finger positioning is the leading cause of hand injuries. Communication and teamwork can help determine and eliminate those job hazards.

During the JSA process, ensure that everyone knows about the hazards and risks associated with the job at hand. Just identifying hazards and communicating them to workers can eliminate most potential hazards for hand injuries.

Consider these guidelines to help protect hands from injury and disability:
► Be alert to hand hazards before an accident happens.
► Use hand tools – do not use your hand as the tool.
► Perform a JSA to identify the associated hand hazards.
► Be alert to possible unguarded pinch points.
► Use push sticks, guards, shield and other protective devices when appropriate. Do not remove guards.
► Remove any jewelry such as necklaces, rings, earrings and wristwatches. Jewelry should not be worn within an arm’s length of rotating or operating machinery, tools, or electrical switch areas.
► Properly position your body when working around stationary and moving equipment.
► When working with chemicals, know how to manage hazards by reading the material safety data sheets (MSDS).
► Use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and position your body a safe distance from chemicals as you work with them.
► Do not wear loose clothing, such as unbuttoned shirts and sleeves, loose shirt tails, ties or unzipped pant legs on coveralls when working in dangerous areas.
► Inspect equipment and power tools before and after tasks to make sure they are in good condition.
► Use proper guarding around moving equipment. Always replace guards when any maintenance work is completed.
► When general maintenance or repair is needed, always use proper lock out/tag out procedures specified for your work area. Ensure that all affected workers are familiar with and follow the lock out/tag out program.
► Always wear the appropriate hand protection associated with the job task. For example, wear chemical-resistant gloves when mixing chemicals; electrical gloves for any electrical work being performed; steel mesh gloves when cutting; and cotton or canvas gloves during daily tasks. When wearing gloves, be sure they fit properly and are rated for the specific task.
► Use a brush – not your fingers – to wipe away debris.
► Select tools designed to keep wrists straight to help avoid repetitive motion/overuse problems.

Glove selection
There are various ways in which fingers and hands may be injured, but the use of personal protective equipment, such as the right kind of gloves, can provide protection against many hazards.

Gloves should be appropriate for the job, fit properly and be comfortable. Choosing the right glove size will help prevent the glove from becoming a hazard.

When gloves become worn, torn, or contaminated, they should be replaced. Remember to be alert, follow procedures, and never put your hand in a place where you cannot see!

Published in the November/December 2006 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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