Hand protection tips for every worker
The cost of workplace injuries is huge. In the U.S., there were more than 2.7 million workplace injuries and more than 88,000 fatal injuries in 2016. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average cost of an accident at work is $173,000. These costs relate not only to medical bills, but also to lost wages, vocational rehabilitation, and pain and suffering. In other words, an injury can cost you a lot more than what it would cost to prevent the injury altogether.
The costs of industrial accidents are not only financial. Employees who are injured miss out on the opportunity to learn, build skills, contribute to a team, and have a voice in the workplace. That’s why it’s important to learn how to protect yourself at work. Let’s take a look at some of the most common hand protection tips for any worker.
Stay alert
Stay alert when you’re working. It can be easy to let your guard down when you’re so focused on a task, but it’s important to stay aware of what’s going on around you. When working with machines, always keep one hand free and use both hands when necessary. This prevents your hands from getting caught in moving parts or getting stuck when the machine is turned off.
Dress for work
The first thing you can do is dress for work. The way you dress affects how you feel, and that can affect your safety. If the workplace requires gloves, make sure to wear them. If not, a pair of cotton gloves or a multi-purpose tool like the Dremel® Versa Tip is a cheap and simple way to protect your hands from minor cuts and splinters. In general, it’s best to wear long-sleeved clothing and stay away from fabrics that can tear easily. It is also important to stay informed about the dangers associated with your profession and what safety precautions you should take.
Make sure your tools are safe
Tools are a major cause of workplace injuries. If you use a tool or machine with too much force, there is a high chance that it will slip or break and cause damage to your hands or fingers. To avoid these accidents, you should always use the right tools for the job. Always use tools that are appropriate for both the task and your skill level. For example, if you’re using a saw, make sure the blade is sharp and properly aligned before using it. Notify your supervisor of any safety issues with tools and equipment before using them.
Keep good records
One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself is to keep good records. This involves keeping a log of what happened at work and how it made you feel. When you need to make a claim, it’s very important that you can accurately prove your injuries – so knowing how to properly document your feelings and injuries on the job can be very helpful later on.
Do not eat, drink or touch with bare hands
If you are handling food, you should not eat or drink before you do. This means that you should not lick your fingers if you want to taste the sauce and should not use your finger to measure flour. If you do, the food will become contaminated with bacteria from your mouth, which can lead to food poisoning. In fact, food poisoning can be one of the most common causes of workplace injuries.
If you need to wash your hands before starting a task, use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. If you have an injury on your hand, make sure you don’t touch anything else until you’ve washed that wound off. Finally, you should wear gloves if you touch anything that could pose a safety hazard, such as cutting vegetables or meat or if you come into contact with bodily fluids such as blood or human waste. Gloves are especially important in restaurants and hospitals, where the risk of infection is higher because there are pathogens in human waste.
Wraps for fingers and wrists
Protecting your fingers and wrists is important to prevent injuries from cuts, scrapes, and burns. If you work with chainsaws or other power tools, remember to protect your hands with gloves that cover not only the palm but also the back of the hand. When working with a grinder, use gloves that cover your hands and fingers from the fingertips to at least three-fourths of the height of your forearm. If you are working with sharp objects, such as knives or chisels, use gloves that cover your hands and fingers from below the fingertips to just above the wrist. Some workers need special cutting gloves for protection. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed new guidelines for employers on how to protect workers who may come into contact with the Ebola virus in the workplace.
Conclusion
The cost of workplace injuries is huge. In the US, there were more than 2.7 million workplace injuries and more than 88,000 fatal injuries in 2016. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average cost of an accident at work is $173,000. These costs include not only medical bills, but also lost wages, vocational rehabilitation, and pain and suffering. In other words, an injury can cost you a lot more than what it would cost to prevent the injury altogether.
The cost of accidents at work is not only financial. Employees who get injured miss out on the opportunity to learn, build skills, contribute to a team, and have a voice in the workplace. That’s why it’s important to learn how to protect yourself at work – to take measures that will help you prevent injury before it happens and limit costs if it does happen! The most common hand protection tips for any worker are below:
- Wear gloves with cut-resistant properties
- Keep your fingers close together when handling objects
- Avoid using your fingertips if possible
- Wear blouses/shirts that cover your wrists