Your Hands
The most used tool in almost any workplace is the Human Hand. Try writing without using your thumb, try holding a hammer with only two fingers and you will know.
No matter what your job is, your hands are the main point of contact between you and your work. Perhaps this is why hand injuries are a leading cause of job related disabilities. It’s very easy to forget that your hands need careful attention if they are to go on serving you as the powerful precision tools that they are now.
Know the Danger Zones
· Handling or struck by sharp objects
· Caught in rotating equipment
· Energized systems - No LOCK OUT
· Struck by or against objects
· Caught in pinch points
· Misuse of portable power tools
· Contact with hot objects or material
· Contact with caustic or corrosive material
· Poor hygiene practices
· Repetitive motion/poor equipment design
· Improperly dressed wounds
· Poor hand or body position
Protect Your Hands
· Clean up with a rag or a brush – not your fingers or hands.
· Protect your hands using a rag or a brush for cleaning. It’s a good idea to wear gloves when your are cleaning to prevent injury.
· Keep your hands clean. Don’t ignore hand injuries.
· Know the signs of dermatitis and other skin disorders.
· Get prompt medical attention when required. A minor injury can turn into a major one if you don’t attend to it right away.
· Never wear gloves, jewelry, or loose clothing when working with moving machine parts.
· Use the appropriate personal protective equipment -- gloves, guards, forearm cuffs, barrier creams -- for the specific task you are performing.
· When wearing gloves, be sure they are rated for the specific task you are performing.
· Select tools designed to keep wrists straight to help avoid repetitive motion/overuse problems.