Your hands are essential to nearly every task at work, making them constantly at risk for injury. A serious hand injury can impact your ability to work and your quality of life.
It’s critical to keep your hands out of harm’s way when working with tools and machinery. Wearing gloves is one of the most common ways to prevent hand injuries, but they must be the right type for the task and in good condition to provide proper protection.
Hand Injury Statistics
Hand injuries are the second most common workplace injury, with over 1 million workers treated in emergency rooms annually. These injuries result in over 100,000 lost-time cases for employers. 70% of injuries occur when gloves aren’t worn, and 30% happen even when gloves are worn, due to damage or improper selection.
Common Causes of Hand Injuries
Hand injuries on the job site often result from:
- Carelessness
- Lack of awareness
- Distractions
- Boredom
- Disregard for safety procedures
Tools, machinery, and materials are common sources of hand injuries.
Common Hand Injuries
Lacerations are the most frequent type of hand injury, caused by sharp objects or tools. Many occur when workers don’t wear proper gloves, like Kevlar, which protect against cuts but not stabbing motions.
Crush injuries happen when hands are caught between two objects or in moving equipment, often at pinch points where moving parts meet.
Fractures are caused by falls, machinery accidents, or falling objects. They range from simple fractures (bone stays within the body) to compound fractures (bone breaks through the skin).
Other injuries include amputations, nerve damage, burns, stiff joints, and paralysis.
Prevention and Best Practices
Protect your hands by using tools to keep them out of danger (e.g., push sticks for table saws), avoiding fixed open-blade knives, and always wearing the proper gloves. Be mindful of your surroundings, follow safety procedures, and lock out/tag out equipment before maintenance.
If you’re injured, report it to your supervisor or foreman immediately and seek medical attention. Taking the right precautions can make all the difference in protecting your hands and ensuring your safety on the job. If you have questions about safety hazards or how to perform a task safely, do not be afraid to speak up and ask questions. It is your job to keep yourself as well as others on the job site safe.
Until next time…Work Safe & Be Safe!
