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Manual And Powered Hand Tools – Landscaping Stats and Facts

FACTS

Primary hazards and types of injuries associated with manual and powered hand tools.

  1. Cuts and Lacerations
    • Powered Tools: Electric or gas-powered tools like chainsaws can cause severe cuts and amputations if safety guards are not used or if the operator loses control.
  1. Eye Injuries
    • Flying Debris: Both manual and powered tools can eject debris such as wood chips.
  1. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
    • Vibration Exposure: Powered tools like chainsaws and trimmers can cause Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), which affects circulation and nerve function in the hands and arms.
  1. Burns and Electric Shocks
    • Hot Surfaces: Tools with engines or motors can have hot surfaces that cause burns.
  1. Hearing Damage
    • Noise Exposure: Powered tools produce high noise levels, leading to hearing damage over time.
  1. Puncture Wounds and Bruises
    • Manual Tools: Spades, forks, and other digging tools can cause puncture wounds and bruises.

STATS

  • In 2018, there were approximately 31,350 injuries reported due to non-powered hand tools, which is nearly three times the number of injuries caused by powered hand tools.
  • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported around 205,000 injuries involving the wrist, hand, and fingers that required time away from work. This corresponds to a rate of 29.6 incidents per 10,000 full-time workers across all private industries
  • In the USA, power tools are responsible for approximately 960,000 injuries annually. About 200 fatalities each year are caused by power tool accidents
  • Injuries from manual tools such as hammers and screwdrivers have increased by 2.44% since 2018.
  • In Canada, males aged 18 to 64 account for over 48% of hospitalizations due to injuries from power tools. Females aged 65 to 84 also see a high rate of injuries, primarily due to inexperience with these tools.