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“You Need Hands”
 Why Hand Protection is Important
Take a moment to hold your hands out in front of you. Look at
them. They are the only two hands you will ever have.

Now try clapping with one hand !!

It has been estimated that almost 20% of
all disabling accidents on the job involve
the hands. Without your fingers or hands,
your ability to work and play would be
greatly reduced.
Human hands are unique. No other
creature in the world has hands that can
grasp, hold, move, and manipulate objects
like human hands. They are one of your
greatest assets. And, as such, must be
protected and cared for.
 Why Focus on Hands?
 Your hands are the nearest
bodily interface to the task
you are doing
 The difference between a
Hand Injury LTI and a First
Aid Case can be quantified as
time and distance
(Milliseconds,
Millimetres)
Hand and Finger
Accidents
 CUT FINGER ON SHARP EDGE WHEN
TIGHTENING HOSE FITTING
 INJURED PARTY FELL WHILST
DESCENDING STAIRS SUSTAINED BRUISING
TO LEFT RING FINGER
 STRIPPING INSULATING MATERIAL CUT
FINGER
 SELECTING A SHEET OF METAL, HAND
SLIPPED CAUSING LACERATION REQUIRING
2 STITCHES
 SPARK FROM WELDING CAUSED NEARBY
MATERIAL TO IGNITE CAUSING BURN TO 3
FINGERS
 WEDDING RING FINGER SNAGGED FINGER
AMPUTATED
 Reported Hand Injury
Contributory Factors
 Hand and powered tools
 Vibration
 Crushing/Pinch Points
 Dropped Objects
 Struck by moving parts
 Contact with Substances
 Slips, Trips & Falls
 Temperature extremes
 Electricity
 Entanglement
 Jewellery
 Sharp objects
Traumatic Injuries

You can suffer a traumatic injury to your

hands in many ways.

 Tools and machines with sharp edges

can cut your hands.
 Staples, screwdrivers, nails, chisels,
and stiff wire can puncture your hands.
 Getting your hands caught in
machinery can sprain, crush, or remove
your hand or fingers (especially when
wearing jewellery at work).
Contact Injuries

Coming into contact with caustic or

toxic chemicals, biological substances,
electrical sources, or extremely cold or
hot objects can irritate or burn your
hands.

WARNING: Toxic substances are

poisonous substances that can be
absorbed through your skin and enter
your body.
 Repetitive Motion Injuries
Whenever you repeat the same hand
movement over a long period of time, you
run the risk of repetitive motion problems
Repetitive motion problems often appear
as a numbness or tingling sensation
accompanied by pain and the loss of
gripping power in your hands.
If you start having these symptoms, take a
break. Also, simple hand exercises such as
flexing the wrist and stretching the fingers
will help.
If the problem persists, talk with your
Supervisor or consult the Medic.
Preventative Measures
Housekeeping and Hygiene
Poorly maintained machinery, tools,
sloppy work areas, and cluttered aisles all
contribute to hand injuries.

Good hygiene includes hand washing.

Hand washing helps to remove germs and
dirt from your hands. Clean hands are less
susceptible to infection and other skin
problems such as contact dermatitis.
Personal Protective Equipment
Gloves
There are many type of gloves that are
designed to protect your hands.

Metal mesh gloves resist sharp edges and prevent cuts.

Leather gloves shield your hands from rough surfaces.

Vinyl and neoprene gloves protect your hands

against toxic chemicals.

Rubber gloves protect you when working around

electricity.
Personal Protective Equipment
If in doubt talk with your supervisor or
safety rep about the type of glove you should
be using on your job.

Padded cloth gloves protect your hands from sharp

edges, slivers, dirt, and vibration.

Heat resistant gloves protect your hands from heat

and flames.

Latex disposable gloves are used to protect your

hands from germs, bacteria and dermatitis.

Lead-lined gloves are used to protect your hands

from radiation sources.
 Wearing and Using Gloves
Must Do`s
 Select and use the right kind of glove for the job you are going
to be performing.
 Select gloves that fit.
Assess the risk any rings, watches, or bracelets that might cut/
tear your gloves or snag the wearer`s hand / fingers.
 Wash your hands before and after wearing your gloves.
 Inspect your gloves before you use them. Look for tears, holes
or cracks that might leak.
 Replace gloves that are worn or torn.
Look after your gloves and they will look after you
 Wearing and Using Gloves
Must Do`s
 Some gloves may be chemical specified and have a life
expectancy. Discard them after the recommended time has
expired.
After working with chemicals, hold your gloved hands under
running water to rinse away any chemicals or dirt before
removing the gloves.
 Wash cotton gloves as needed.
 Avoid borrowing gloves. Gloves are Personal Protective
Equipment. (PPE)
 Store gloves right side out in a clean, cool, dry, ventilated
area.
 Never wear gloves around powered rotating equipment -
The following types of gloves are available

NBR (Nitrile Buna Kevlar Cut Resist

Rubber) impregnated Gloves with polka
Rigger Gloves dot grips

Hide Leather faced

Rigger Gloves
Kevlar Cut Resist
Gloves
Porous NBR Fully
Coated Knit Wrist
Edge Gloves Vinyl disposable
gloves. For food
Black Rubber preparation or
Gauntlets for laboratory work.
chemical use
 ASSESS THE RISK
MATCH THE GLOVE TO THE HAZARD
Look for these commonly used pictograms they will help you decide
Other Protective Measures
Barrier Creams
Water Repellent Creams are used to
protect your hands from caustic chemicals
 Solvent-Repellent Creams are used to
protect your hands from solvents, oils, and
other organic chemicals.
 Sunscreens protect your skin from the
damaging effects of the sun.
 Vanishing Creams protect your skin
against mild acids, and make cleaning up
easier.
WARNING: Never substitute a barrier
cream when you should use gloves.
 Remember!

Your hands are one

of your greatest assets.

PROTECT THEM !
 Discussion Point

• Take 10 to 15 minutes
to discuss what the
potential Hazards to
hand’s are and any
measures to reduce the
Risk.

Click
mouse to
continue
 What can we do?

Everyone on the installation • Assess the risk

exposes their hands to risk • Permit To Work
of injury. There are no
• Task Risk Assessment
exceptions, and no
prisoners when we lose • Review Procedures
awareness. We need to • Personal Risk Awareness
eliminate the hazard or • COSHH Data Sheets
reduce the risk to as low as
possible
 Taking Personal Control of your
Hand Health and Safety
• Take time out, and take a fresh look at your
procedures.
• Think about how you can injure your hands Think
“what if” and be aware of the hazards and the risk
of injury
• Consider the human factors including physical
capabilities, competency and training
• Take stock of the task, environment, weather and
plan your task to suit
• Ensure equipment and tools are fit for purpose.
• Use the correct Hand PPE, but remember PPE is a
last resort, it only protects when all else has failed.
• Take Hand Safety home with you..
 A Hand Story……..
An offshore worker was at home splitting rock in the
garden using a sledge hammer, he had some
difficulty splitting one piece so asked his wife to
help.
He asked her to hold a metal spike steady while he
gave it a “good welly” with the sledge hammer.
The bright lass refused, stating he might miss and hit
her hand. He offered her the use of a set of tongs
to distance her hands from the hammer blow,
again she refused.
A long, heated argument ensued with the much pressed husband
finally shouting “Well you *@@%!! I’ll hold it and you hit it then”.
Using tongs, he held the spike steady, whilst his wife lifted the 10 lb.
hammer, closed her eyes and swung…. and missed by a good two
feet.
The husband collapsed and in wave of pain and nausea, bleeding
profusely from a badly fractured finger.
The wife then ran away, jumped in the car and wasn’t seen again.
The moral to this story is never give your wife a sledge hammer to use
unless she is trained and competent to use it.
Or was she…………….?????
 ………. And Finally!
Don’t take a gamble,
Plan your task, follow
procedure and be
aware of where your
hands are in relation to
the hazards.

P.S. This Applies

to you too !!!!