FACTS
- Your organization may already have gloves available for employees, but a quick look at OSHA’s hand injury stats reveals that you probably aren’t wearing them.
- The most common types of hand injuries are bruises, pinches, lacerations, abrasions, strains, amputations, dislocations, Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, and Raynaud’s Disease. The non-dominant hand is the most vulnerable to injury.
- While hand injuries aren’t the deadliest, they can certainly make your day-to-day work much harder. Injuries to the hand can also be more difficult to heal because of the way the hand moves, the wound can open up.
- Four major causes of hand injuries are: failure to follow procedures; using the wrong tool for a task; inattention; and failure to use personal protective equipment.
- Workers can avoid hand injuries by following these six safety tips: consider all potential hazards involved in a job before starting it; never take shortcuts; concentrate on the task being performed; always wear appropriate hand PPE; follow safety rules and safe working procedures; and practice good housekeeping.
- There are several types of workplace hazards that can cause serious hand and finger injuries, including these four: mechanical hazards, such as pinch points or cutting surfaces; personal hazards, such as jewelry, loose-fitting clothing or improper PPE; contact hazards such as chemicals, electricity or hot/cold surfaces; and housekeeping hazards, including improper storage of equipment and slippery conditions.
STATS
- Hand injuries are both expensive and tragic. A hand injury can cost anywhere from $540 to $26,000, according to the National Safety Council. Injuries to the hand are the second most common type of workplace injury, so they also have a big impact on workers’ compensation claims.
- About 10 percent of hand injuries result from the improper use of hand tools, while 40 percent are cause during the handling of materials. (Workplace Safety North, Ontario)
- Every year in Canada, an estimated 500,000 work-related hand injuries occur. (Government of Canada Labour Program)
- An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) study found that 70 percent of the workers suffering hand injuries in manufacturing operations were not wearing safety gloves at the time of injury.
- Five types of hand injuries are: lacerations (cuts), accounting for 63 percent of the total; crush (13 percent); avulsion (tearing of skin or soft tissue), accounting for eight percent; puncture (six percent); and fracture (five percent), according to the National Safety Council.