On the ninth day of industrial ergonomics, my beloved safety team gave to me…tips for protecting my hands from injury and a $20 Amazon gift card!
Today’s topic is important for workers in various industries: protecting the hands from cuts and other injuries.
In general, PPE is an important part of hand safety—gloves can help prevent scrapes and minor cuts, and will also help keep your skin from becoming irritated and forming calluses. This is true in industrial settings, warehouses, and construction, as well as in kitchens, where cut-resistant gloves are a must-have for line cooks and anyone using knives to prepare food.
However, many safety experts insist that gloves are not always the perfect solution, especially when workers are using different types of powered saws. Psychologically, gloves can instill a false sense of security, making workers overconfident or even careless when using power saws that will easily cut through gloves and injure the hands. Worse, with equipment like band saws, gloves can become snared and draw the hand into the blade, causing serious injuries. Jewelry can also catch on sawblades or distort the fit of gloves when used appropriately, so make sure to remove any rings or bracelets before you start work.
Finally, the best prevention for hand injuries is awareness. Removing distractions from the work environment and staying focused on the task at hand goes a long way in preventing injuries. Fatigue is also a common factor in many hand injuries, and managers should monitor fatigue and alertness levels and avoid assigning potentially hazardous tasks when workers are likely to be fatigued.
Watch DORN’s Cheryl Roy demonstrate the safe use of a circular saw in this Safety Minute video.
Thank you for joining us for the 12 Days of Industrial Safety! Remember to share this post on social media to be entered to win today’s prize: a $20 Amazon gift card!
The Day 8 winner of the 12 Days of Ergonomics is Rosa - our very own Rosa from DORN! She’s been enthusiastically sharing non-stop for all 8 days.
