Hand & Finger Safety

You use your hands in some way for virtually every task you perform at work, so hands are constantly at risk of injury. Over the summer months the City’s Safety Committee saw an increase in hand & finger injuries. Practicing hand and finger safety requires identifying common workplace hazards, wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), and using safe work practices around machinery and tools. This month we’ll look at a few easy steps to help prevent these types of injuries.

Hand injury statistics

Hand injuries are very common on a construction job site, and they are the second leading type of injury in the workplace. Over 1 million workers are treated in the emergency room annually for hand injuries. This results in over 100,000 lost time cases for employers.

70% of those patients treated for hand injuries were not wearing gloves when the injury occurred. Another 30% of the victims had gloves on, but the gloves did not protect them because they were damaged or were inadequate for the task that was being completed.

Hand injuries are far too common. Many can easily be avoided if the right safety precautions are taken.

Common causes of hand injuries

• Pinch points and rotating parts: Gears, rollers, and conveyor belts can catch hands, fingers, or loose items.
• Carelessness: not focusing on the task at hand.
• Sharp edges and objects: Knives, glass, and metal burrs cause cuts and lacerations.
• Thermal and chemical exposure: Hot surfaces, extreme cold, and corrosive substances cause burns and tissue damage.
• Disregard for safety procedures: not following proper safety procedures.
• Repetitive motion: Continuous movements or vibrating tools lead to strains and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Common types of hand injuries

• Lacerations: are the most common type of hand injury.
• Crush injuries: usually occur when a worker has placed their hands between two objects or in a rotating piece of equipment.
• Fracture: injuries can occur when there is a sudden blow to the bones in the fingers or the hands. Often a fracture of the hand is caused by a fall.

Best Practices for Protection

You cannot possibly prevent every injury that could happen on a job site or know when the injury is going to happen. You should however be prepared and know some safe work practices that can prevent accidents and injuries for you and your coworkers.

• Use tools to remove your hands from the line of fire when doing a work task that could result in injury to your hands or fingers. Using tools such as push sticks when using a table saw is an example of how you can remove your hands from the line of fire.
• Avoid using fixed open blade knives. Always use a safety knife that limits the amount of blade exposed as well as a safety feature that can retract the blade when pressure is let off the handle.
• When using a knife or blade to make a cut, always cut away from yourself.
• Never put your hand in an area where you cannot see it.
• Always wear the proper hand protection for the task you are doing. Understand the limitations of your gloves and what tasks they are appropriate for.
• Never work on an energized piece of equipment. Lock and tag out the equipment to ensure there will not be an unintentional start-up while you are working on that piece of equipment.
• Be aware of your surroundings and what others are doing.