The human hand is our most common tool. We use our hands to get dressed, to eat, to drive, to open doors, push containers, lift lids, pull levers, turn wrenches and operate tools. Protecting our hands is critical for employees and a good hand safety program will ensure their safety and prevent potential life-altering injuries.
Will Flower
Hand injuries, such as bruises, abrasions, cuts, fractures, punctures, and burns can result in pain and suffering. Additionally, hand injuries create a financial burden for employee and employer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average hand injury claim exceeds $6,000 and more than $7,500 when lost time from work is calculated. Serious injuries to a hand can result in a loss of dexterity, motion or gripping power. These conditions can impede one’s ability to perform basic life tasks.
OSHA regulations mandate that employers require workers to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to hazards such skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns and harmful temperature extremes. Additionally, OSHA rules require employers to base the selection of appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the tasks to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.
Protecting Your Hands
A comprehensive hand protection program should include:
- Risk Assessment—Conducting a risk assessment in which the work areas and tasks are reviewed to identify hazards. The assessment should include talking with workers about threats to hand safety. An examination of equipment should also be conducted to determine whether upgrades or improvements could be made to prevent injuries.
- Hazard Elimination—Controlling a hazard by eliminating exposure to the hazard is the best way to protect employees. An example of doing so would be designing and installing a barrier between the hazard and the employee such as a guard around a gear or pulley.
- Glove Selection—Seventy percent of all hand injuries could be prevented if the employee were wearing gloves. Gloves should be chosen depending on the specific hazards of the job being performed. A good pair of leather gloves may be great for working on a collection vehicle, but workers in a recycling center may need protection from sharps and a mechanic may need protection from chemicals, acids or solvents.
- Proper Fit—Employees should have gloves that fit. Gloves that are too small may not provide adequate protection while gloves that are too big can be clumsy.
- Ongoing Training—Hand protection training may seem simple. However, there is a lot to cover. Workers should be educated on the function of various types of gloves including the purpose of special features. Training is also a good time to review the organization’s policy and the requirements for glove use. After the training, workers should not be confused about what type of glove to wear for a job.
- Elimination of Damaged Gloves—When gloves are ripped or torn and no longer provide adequate protection, they should be discarded and replaced.
- Encouragement of Glove Use—Workers will have many excuses for not wearing gloves. Gloves are too hot, too bulky, too restrictive, do not allow for a good grip, etc. Not one of these excuses is good enough to explain the loss of a finger.
A Critical Role
A comprehensive hand safety program will play a critical role in preventing workplace injuries. Remember, a worker’s hands are their most important tools, but unlike a hammer or a screwdriver, hands are irreplaceable.
Next month’s Safety Brief will focus on hearing conservation.
Will Flower is the Vice President of Corporate and Public Affairs at Winters Bros. Waste Systems. Will has 35 years of experience in the area of solid waste management and environmental protection. He has held operational and executive leadership positions at the Director’s Office of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services. Inc. and Green Stream Recycling.
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