Hand protection safety talk is our toolbox topic today. Our hands and arms are very important to each of us. As a result, they are in the “middle of the action” when it comes to facing danger. Arms and hands are more exposed to cuts, bruises, scrapes, and chemical exposure due to workplace hazards than any other part of the body. More than half a million workers suffer injuries to their hands and arms each year.
Two of the most important instruments with which we work for hands. We probably could not use any other device capable of replacing our hands and also being able to maintain their precision and maneuverability.
You would be in for a surprise to learn that hand injuries account for 1/3 of the 2,000,000 disabling accidents that occur on the job each year. Most of these accidents are caused by pinch points, approximately 80%.
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Why hand protection safety talk is important
Pinch points have a terrible habit of grabbing us when we’re not paying attention. We can avoid them by being vigilant about their existence and thus being able to take adequate care. Good care is to use suitable gloves when we are handling rough materials or when we are lifting or moving objects.
Other safety measures include taking time to remove or bend protruding spikes. Naturally, machine guards and special tools offered to you, to perform a certain task, must be used.
When care is not taken with the machines you will have to work with, or when you remove a guard and don’t put it back in place, you are increasing your chances of injury. Betting on yourself in these situations is almost always losing.
Hands safety is nothing new. They have been considered important for years. Despite the care we take, our hands will receive small injuries from time to time. All care must be adopted. Check carefully the place where you are going to move an object and make sure that the doors and passageways are wide enough.
When you are going to lower or raise an object to the floor, be careful to catch your fingers, seek help, and ask a partner to place the wedge correctly. When picking up an object, check the conditions, and see if your hands are not dirty with grease or oil. You must assess the risk during manual handling.
Hand protection safety by
People who are married have probably joked that all their problems started when they put a ring on their finger. Hand protection safety campaign and hand protection safety toolbox talk for those who are not caring or may not be aware of the hazards and hand safety.
- Cuts and bumps – Caused by tools, machines, and handling of sharp objects.
- Scratches and Chafing – Caused by moving parts and handling rough materials.
- Thermal exposure – Due to extreme cold or heat, work with heat.
- Blood Infections – Caused by first aid, cleaning up blood or body fluids.
- Chemical exposure – By working with chemical products.
- Disorders due to repetitive movements (ie, carpal tunnel syndrome) – Due to the use of computers and jobs with repetitive movements.
- Entrapment – Caused by jewelry and accessories caught in work equipment.
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Hand protection safety
Engineering solutions and PPEs are the hierarchy of control, make it in your work practices:
- Machinery surveillance – To avoid cuts, bruises, and scrapes.
- Job Rotation – To avoid repetitive work hazards.
- Maintenance and cleaning – Regarding chemical products and threats due to the manipulation of blood.
- Workplace design – To avoid repetitive work and accident prevention.
- Gloves – Proper gloves can protect your hands from many hazards.
Fortunately, we can reduce the risk of serious injury to the hands of our workers by keeping in mind the following 5 tips:
NO ACCESSORIES IN THE HANDS
If due to their activity, the hands of workers are exposed to accident risks (impacts, cuts, electric shocks…), before starting their work they must remove all the accessories they have on them: rings, bracelets, watches, etc.
MAKE SURE YOUR EMPLOYEES WEAR PROTECTIVE GLOVES… AND THAT THEY ARE THE RIGHT ONES FOR THEIR JOB
70% of hand accidents occur when workers are not wearing personal protective equipment such as safety gloves. Choose the correct glove, your workers must use protective gloves specifically designed for the risks and tasks corresponding to their respective jobs. The correct glove size and types must always be selected, since only then will the hand be properly covered and, therefore, protected.
DO NOT USE YOUR HANDS AS A TOOL
Hand tools must be used, and hands must not be used as a tool. Select the proper handling aids tools to avoid accidents and overuse/repetitive motion issues. Of course, the tools used must be in good condition and used only for what they were manufactured. Inspects equipment and machinery before work to ensure they are in good working order.
GET EMPLOYEES COMMITTED TO THEIR SAFETY
Do you want to reduce injuries to the hands of your co-workers, and ensure their safety in general? Well, you won’t get it just by providing them with the appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). You will also need to make them aware and motivate them to the maximum in the attention, care, and protection of their hands at work.
The worker must know about what is work gloves leather, electric work gloves, rubber work gloves, welding gloves leather, hand and cut resistance gloves, etc.
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TRAIN EMPLOYEES IN THE PREVENTION
Training in Occupational Risk Prevention, in addition to being mandatory, is the key to training employees in the necessary skills and attitudes in terms of worker protection is the responsibility of the employer. Prevention training is not a bureaucratic formalism, it is a necessity to improve the safety and health of employees.
Workers who received prevention courses (theoretical and practical) are up to 40% less likely to have hand injuries and accidents than those who did not receive them. The worker must know the OSHA hand protection 1910.138.
Conclusion
Your arms and hands are extremely important to you. Use common sense and the above information to protect them. The decisions you make today and tomorrow can affect your whole life – be careful!
Our hands (from the wrist to the fingertips) are the parts of the body most exposed to accidents, so much so that one in 3 occupational accidents affects the hands of workers. Remember to always be alert, follow procedures, and don’t put your hands where they can’t be seen. Safety and health at work are in your hands.
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Hand protection safety talk
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