You need your hands for almost every activity you take part in throughout the day, whether at work or at home. Hence, it’s a no-brainer to say that you need to keep your hands safe whenever you perform any dangerous tasks. According to an OSHA report, around 1 million workers in the US are sent to the emergency room due to hand injuries every year (2018).
The stats stated above are an issue that end up costing a lot more than a solution would. The good news is, that solution isn’t far off the table, i.e. with the right approach, hand injuries are almost completely preventable. Given all of this information, it’s not surprising that hand injuries at the workplace and their prevention are taken seriously at every factory, especially given that injuries cost a lot more than safety does. This blog will discuss the most common types of hand injuries, their causes, and prevention.
The Most Common Workplace Hand Injuries
Cuts and Lacerations
Cuts, lacerations, and punctures are the most common and major injuries that any worker experiences at any factory. These injuries occur because of mishandling of certain objects or tools, sharp edges, and other materials.
Crushed Fingers
These injuries are common if workers aren’t careful about protecting their hands from various issues i.e. slamming doors, having their hands crushed by falling building materials, or being irresponsible while handling heavy vehicles, etc. Having their nails or other sensitive tissues crushed through can prove to be substantial for workers.
Burns
Burns are a common hazard at the workplace if someone works around molten steel, heated materials, and dangerous chemicals. Getting exposed to harmful chemicals without using the right workplace gloves can lead to third-degree burns on the hands. There’s also a risk of burns from electrocution that can impact the nerves of fingers and hands, which can lead to lasting damage.
Fractures and Amputated Fingers
With all the risks present at factories and construction sites, it’s not uncommon for a worker’s hands or fingers to get fractured, and even a minor fracture can require an ample amount of time away from work. But fractures aren’t the only risk, serious injuries can even lead to workers losing a part of their fingers or maybe even their hands, leading to amputation. And even if those body parts are re-attached successfully, they won’t have the same level of mobility and strength as before.
Preventive Measures
There are a few best practices you can introduce to ensure your workers stay safe from harmful and life-threatening hand or other injuries.
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Training
Providing workplace safety training to your employees is mandatory for every organization. These training sessions ensure the workers understand how to operate different equipment and how to keep themselves from getting injured on the job as they carry on their daily tasks.
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Proper Protective Equipment
Another step into ensuring workplace safety is to provide every worker with PPE, including leather safety gloves and apparel. This can further guarantee that workers will be prevented from getting exposed to dangerous chemicals or other material.
If you’re looking for good quality PPE for your employees to keep their hands from getting injured, look into the collection by Elite-Leather.
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Awareness Drills
These are another form of training exercises focused on making employees more alert to their surroundings, so they don’t accidentally end up injured when their environment consists of all kinds of injury risks i.e. hazardous machinery, chemicals, etc.
At the end of the day, the most productive and least time-consuming preventive measure for hand injuries is to be proactive about not just practicing it, but also promoting it at the workplace. Furthermore, wearing the right kind of PPEs can go a long way to ensure you stay safe even after going near hazardous materials that can otherwise pose a threat. If you’re looking for more information on this or any other topic regarding leather products and workplace safety, visit ELC.
