Hand Injury Prevention

Presentation Elements

 Hand Hazards / Potential Injuries

 Hand Hazard Controls
 Proper Gloves for the job
 Proper Tools for the job

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How important are your hands?

 The hand is one of the most complex parts of your body – the
movement of the tendons, bones, tissues and nerves allows
you to grip and do a wide variety of complex jobs
 Without your hands it would be extremely difficult to do
routine simple tasks, such as opening doors, using a fork, or
tying your shoes
 Your hands make you a skilled, valuable worker
 The improper use or misuse of hand tools cause minor to
serious hand injuries
 Hand injuries are likely when the wrong tool is used or the
right tool is used improperly

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How important are your hands?

 What could you NOT do if you lost a finger, thumb or hand

today?
 What are the consequences associated with a hand injury?

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Did you know

 That your hands and fingers have more nerve

endings per square centimeter than any other part
of your body.
 That your hands and fingers also have more pain
receptors than any other part of your body.
 That your hands & wrists contain 27 bones.

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At-Risk Behaviors that Contribute to Hand Injuries

 Failure to pay attention to the task

at hand
 Failure to keep one’s eyes on task
 Failure to keep body parts out of
the line of fire
 Failure to maintain cutting blades
(dullness) necessitating additional Unsafe Work Practice!!
force
At-Risk Behaviors Contributing to Hand Injuries

 Failure to wear PPE

 Failure to use the proper tool
 Failure to use the correct type of chemical resistant
glove
 Failure of the hands to listen to the brain

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At-Risk Behaviors that Contribute to Hand Injuries

 Using the wrong tool for

the job
 Using a cutter as a
screwdriver
 Hammering a cutter
through thick material
 Modifying tools to defeat At-Risk Behaviors lead to
safety devices unsafe work practices!
At-Risk Behaviors that Contribute to Hand Injuries

 Cutting in awkward positions

 Cutting on unstable surfaces
 Allowing cutters to become
slippery due to oil based
chemicals
 Cutting towards oneself

At-Risk Behaviors
Hand Hazard Controls
Training
Pre-Task Planning (JSA)
Active Job Inspections
Constant Hand Awareness
Asking “What If”
Effective Lockout/Tag out
Engineering Controls
Tag Lines
Tool holders
Correct Tools
Pinch Point Bars

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Hand Placement Awareness
 Hand placement is so crucial because injuries can
happen when individuals least expect them.
 PPE will not always prevent injuries from happening.
 Recognize the hazard, ask “What If” and a prevent /
protect against the “What If”.

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Hand Injuries

 Hand injuries can be associated with working with machinery

or equipment
 The materials being used or the job process might be
hazardous
 Hand tools or powered hand tools may be faulty or improperly
used

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Hand Injuries

The most common causes of hand injuries are:

Carelessness
Lack of awareness
Boredom
Disregard for safety procedures
Distractions

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Hand Injuries

 Hand injuries are difficult to repair because of the complexity

of the hand
 After a hand injury, the hand may not function as it did before
the injury due to loss of:
• Motion
• Dexterity
• Grip
• Ability to complete the simplest of tasks

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Hand Injuries
To avoid hand injuries:
Know the hazards and dangers in the job to be done
Be aware of pinch points
Be aware of hot areas
Be aware of rotating or moving surfaces
Automated machinery may be controlled by remote control, or
delayed timing devices that cause the machine to start
automatically
Loose clothing and jewelry may be caught up in moving
machinery
Never remove machine safeguards or operate machinery with
safeguards removed

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Hand Hazards

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Lines of Defense
 Awareness of Hazards and Prevention Measures
 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Good Hygiene

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Screwdrivers
 When using screwdrivers, place the object on a flat
surface or in a vice Don’t hold it in your hand!
 Don’t use screwdrivers as chisels or pry bars
 Use the correct size driver for the screw
 Don’t use screwdrivers with chipped tips

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Knives
 Use safety knives whenever possible
 Keep knife blades sharp
 Cut away from your body
 Do not use knife blades as screwdrivers
 Avoid working on the same object when a coworker
is using a knife

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Hammers

 Never use a hammer with a splintered, cracked, or

loose handle
 Don’t use hammers with rounded striking faces
 Use the correct hammer for the job
 Don’t strike a hammer face with another hammer
 Don’t use nail hammer claws as a pry bar

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Hand Saws

 Use moderate pressure on hack saws to prevent

blade failure
 Spray saw blades lightly with lubricant prior to use
 Keep blades sharp

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Chisels
 When possible use a safety chisel
 Don’t use chisels with mushroomed heads
 Use the correct chisel for the job
 Don’t use chisels as pry bars

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Wrenches
 Use the correct sized wrench for the job
 Don’t use pliers with worn grooves or crescent
wrenches with worn or sprung jaws
 Don’t use pliers or crescent wrenches on over tight
bolts and nuts
 Pull on wrenches rather than pushing them
 Never use a cheater bar on a wrench
 Never use as a hammer
 Always pull on a wrench – never push

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Portable Power Tools
 Disconnect power tools when not in use and before
changing bits, blades, and other accessories
 If a power tool binds STOP! and reassess the job
 Wear anti-vibration gloves when using power tools that
vibrate excessively
 Never remove guards!
 Never remove handles!
 Ground power tools unless double insulated
 Don’t wear gloves if they can get caught on rotating parts
 Secure work in a vice or on a bench - Don’t hold it in your
hand!

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Shop Tools
 Use a push stick to cut small pieces
 Unplug or Lockout tools before changing blades
 Keep tools sharp
 Never remove guards
 Use a drill press vise when drilling – Don’t hold parts
with your hands!

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Bench Grinders
 Don’t wear gloves when operating bench grinders
 Never remove guards!
 Maintain proper clearances on tool rests and tongue
guards
 Use vice grips when grinding small parts

Maintain tongue Maintain tool rest

guard within within
¼” of the wheel 1/8” of the wheel

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Extreme Temperatures

Use tongs or high temperature

gloves to handle hot or cold
parts and equipment

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Bites and Stings
 Use caution when moving debris piles or equipment
which has been sitting for a long time
 Don’t stick your hands in holes, crevasses and other
secluded places, including work boots which have
been sitting for awhile
 Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate
(garbage cans, stagnant pools of water, uncovered
foods and areas where flowers are blooming)
 Avoid dressing in clothing with bright colors
 Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays

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Sharps Disposal
 Never dispose of used razor blades, broken glass, or
other sharp objects in regular trash cans!
 Keep a metal can specifically for disposal of sharp
objects.

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Equipment Handling
 Use tag lines
 Wear leather gloves
 Never place your hand on top of the load or
between the load and a fixed object
 Inspect hooks and chain slings before use
 Never hang load from the hook tip, unless it is
designed for that

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Jewelry
 Remove jewelry before using power tools or working
on machines
 Jewelry can be watches, rings, bracelets, or any other
item used to decorate a person’s body
 Keep sleeves buttoned

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PPE - Many Gloves for Different Applications

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Which Glove is Best?

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General Guidelines for Chemical Resistant Glove Materials

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How Chemicals Get In!
 Permeation - Diffusion of a chemical through a
material on a molecular basis
 Penetration – Chemical enters through zippers,
punctures, or seams
 Degradation – Chemical causes a change in the
physical properties of the material

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Glove Care
 Inspect gloves before use for tears, excessive wear,
and punctures
 Store in a clean, dry location
 Discard leather and cloth gloves if they become
saturated with oil or other chemicals
 Leak test chemical gloves by sealing the wrist and
filling the glove with air
 Use a clean plastic tube or low pressure air line – not
your mouth!

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Hand Care
 Avoid washing your hands with solvents, harsh soaps,
or abrasives
 Clean and bandage all cuts and abrasions
 Immediately remove any imbedded foreign materials
 Wash immediately after using any chemical – Even if
you did not detect leakage
 Pay attention to skin rashes—get an immediate
medical evaluation
 Wear cotton gloves under rubber gloves to reduce
sweating

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Types of Injuries – Lacerations & Fractures
Cuts, fractures, punctures and amputations:
Cuts or lacerations – May sever nerves, tendons or
muscle or become infected
Fractures can damage nearby tissue and be difficult to
repair

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Types of Injuries - Dermatitis
Dermatitis and burns are caused by direct contact with
chemicals, detergents, metals, or very hot or cold
objects:
Dermatitis may show up immediately after contact
with a chemical causing the skin to become red,
swollen, itchy, or burning, and may develop blisters
Dermatitis may develop after several contacts with
chemicals known as sensitizers - Nothing happens
initially, later contacts with the chemical produce an
allergic reaction

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Types of Injuries – Carpal tunnel syndrome

 Results from prolonged repetitive work with the

hands. This condition can be disabling and can have
a variety of temporary symptoms like swelling,
tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands or fingers

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Hand Exercises
Doing a few simple exercises before work and between
tasks will build hand strength and provide a rest from
repetitive motions
Exercises:
Stretch fingers by spreading them wide apart for a
few seconds (Repeat 3 times with each hand)
Stretch your thumb by holding it down gently for five
seconds (Repeat 3 times with each hand)
Stretch your wrist by making circles with your hands
(Repeat 10 times for each hand)

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Cutting Tools to avoid
Cutting Operations & Tool Guidelines
Proper Tool Proper Use

Dykes Cutting Rope, Wire, & Tie-Wraps

Martor Knife Opening / Disposing of Boxes

Scissors Cutting Shrink Wrap, String, Banding (Plastic)

Shears Cutting Banding (Metal)

Flush Cuts Cutting Excess Tie-Wrap

Wire Cutters Cutting Wire

Wire Strippers Stripping Wire

Metal Snips Cutting Sheet Metal

Stripping Coax Coax Stripper (AKA Coring Tool)

Cable Cutter Cutting Cable

Insulated Cutters For Hot Work

Hand Injury Prevention Success
Pre-Task Planning:
 Choose the correct Tool for the task.
 Choose the correct PPE for the task.
 Adhere to safe work Behaviors while performing
the task.
 Do not give into complacency - it is safety’s worst
enemy.
 Maintain your vigilance by asking “What If”.

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Hand Injury Prevention Success

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