01 Sep Hand Protection – Handle with Care

Hand Protection – Handle with Care

Your hands are involved in almost everything you do at work, which also places them close to many workplace hazards. Cuts, punctures, burns, crushing injuries, chemical exposure, and repetitive-motion injuries can cause temporary or permanent loss of hand function.

Your hands go where you put them. Before beginning any task, think about where your hands will be and what could injure them.

Common Types of Hand Injuries

Traumatic Injuries

Hands and fingers can be caught, pinched, crushed, cut, or punctured by machinery, tools, materials, and equipment. Chains, gears, rollers, blades, sharp edges, and moving components can cause severe injuries in seconds.

To prevent traumatic injuries:

• Keep hands and fingers away from pinch points and the line of fire.
• Never reach into or around moving machinery.
• Keep machine guards and protective devices properly installed.
• Follow lockout/tagout procedures before servicing, cleaning, adjusting, or clearing equipment when hazardous energy could cause injury.
• Use the correct tool for the task and inspect it before use.
• Use push sticks, tongs, clamps, or other tools when they can keep your hands away from hazardous areas.
• Remove rings, watches, bracelets, and other jewelry when they could become caught in equipment.
• Secure loose clothing and long hair around moving machinery.

Contact Injuries

Chemicals such as acids, solvents, cleaners, fuels, and other hazardous substances can cause burns, irritation, dermatitis, or other injuries through skin contact.

Before handling chemicals:

• Review the product label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
• Wear chemical-resistant gloves appropriate for the specific chemical and task.
• Avoid direct skin contact with hazardous substances.
• Never use solvents or gasoline to clean your hands.
• Wash exposed skin thoroughly after handling chemicals.
• Remove contaminated clothing or gloves as required by established procedures.

Remember that not every glove protects against every chemical. Select gloves based on the manufacturer’s recommendations, SDS, and workplace hazard assessment.

Repetitive-Motion Injuries

Repeated gripping, twisting, reaching, or other hand and wrist movements can contribute to musculoskeletal disorders over time.

Reduce repetitive-motion hazards by:

• Using ergonomically designed tools when available.
• Maintaining a neutral wrist position whenever practical.
• Avoiding excessive gripping force.
• Changing hand position or technique when possible.
• Rotating tasks to reduce prolonged repetitive movements.
• Taking appropriate recovery breaks.
• Reporting persistent pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, or discomfort promptly.

Glove Safety

Wear appropriate gloves when they provide protection from the identified hazard. Inspect gloves before use and replace them when torn, punctured, worn, or contaminated.

Gloves can also create a hazard around rotating machinery. A glove caught in a drill, spindle, shaft, or other rotating component can pull the hand into the equipment. Do not wear gloves where they create an entanglement hazard.

Basic Hand-Safety Rules

Protect your hands by remembering these basic practices:

• Recognize the hazards before starting work.
• Think through the task and identify where your hands could be injured.
• Keep hands away from pinch points and moving equipment.
• Use guards and other protective devices.
• Use the correct tools instead of using your hands as tools.
• Select gloves appropriate for the specific hazard.
• Avoid shortcuts and unsafe work practices.
• Stop work when conditions change or an unexpected hazard develops.
• Report unsafe conditions and defective equipment.
• Report injuries promptly and obtain appropriate first aid or medical attention.

Remember

Healthy hands can serve you for a lifetime—but a serious hand injury can also affect you for a lifetime. Know where your hands are, recognize what could cut, crush, burn, or catch them, and keep them out of the line of fire.