Preventing Cuts, Scrapes, Punctures

Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

PA Training for Health & Safety
(PATHS)

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 Safety with Sharps

 Keep scissors sharpened.

 Use proper scissors for the job being done.
 Use scissors only for their intended job.
 Do not try to catch falling scissors.
 Carry scissors with the blades closed.
 Hand scissors to someone with the handle
facing them.

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 Safety with Sharps
 When using a box cutter or utility knife, do not
cut towards yourself.
 Keep box cutters closed when not in use.
 Do not keep your free hand near the cutting
edge of a utility knife when making a cut.
 Always wear the correct PPE when using hand
tools (e.g. gloves, safety glasses, etc.).

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 Safety with Sharps
 Do not carry scissors, screwdrivers, or utility knives
in your pockets – use a proper belt holder or carry
them in your hand.
 When carrying sharp objects carry them at your side
with your arm fully extended.
 Use hand tools for their intended purpose – a
screwdriver is not a hammer!
 Check hand tools before using to make sure they are
not damaged.

Handle is tapered &

taped-unsafe to use-
should be replaced.

What’s wrong with this picture?

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 Safety with Sharps

• Do not pick up broken glass with your bare

hands – use gloves or a broom and dust pan.
• Put broken glass in a sturdy container and label
it with “Caution, Broken Glass Inside.”
• Use appropriate gloves when handling window/
door glass or metal sheets/pieces/covers that
may have sharp edges.

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 Cuts

• If you cut yourself, wash the wound thoroughly

under cold water.
• If the wound is shallow and the bleeding stops,
dry the skin around it with a paper towel or
a clean cloth.
• If available, put an “infection prevention”
cream/spray on the wound.
• Cover the wound with a sterile bandage to keep
the wound shielded and clean.

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 More on Cuts

• To stop bleeding if the wound is deep:

→ Apply pressure
→ Raise the wound site above the heart
→ Seek medical attention a.s.a.p.

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 Puncture Wounds

Puncture wounds are caused when sharp and

pointed objects such as nails, tacks, knife tips,
needles, or bullets penetrate the skin. Animal
bites are another cause of puncture wounds.*

*consumer.healthday.com/…puncture-
wounds-664615.html

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Puncture Wound Treatment

Minor Puncture Wound

 Make sure the object that caused the puncture
is intact. If any part of it remains in the wound,
seek medical help immediately.
 Encourage a little bleeding to wash out germs
by gently pressing on the skin around the
wound.
 Once the bleeding has stopped, clean the
wound thoroughly with soap and water.
Thorough cleaning can help prevent the risk of
tetanus. It's okay to apply an antiseptic
solution.

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Puncture Wound Treatment

More Serious Puncture Wounds.

 If it won't stop bleeding, press down on the

wound firmly with a clean cloth or bandage.
Maintain pressure for 15 minutes.
 If bleeding continues, call 911 or get to an
emergency medical facility immediately.
 If blood is spurting from the wound, apply
pressure immediately and have someone call
911.

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Puncture Wound Treatment
When to seek immediate medical help
 When your tetanus shots are not up-to-date
and the puncturing object was dirty.
 Wound becomes infected. Signs of infection
include pus, increased pain, swelling, redness,
tenderness, a sensation of warmth or visible
redness radiating from the wound, or a fever of
100 degrees F or more.
 Wound involves human or animal bites.
 Wound hasn't stopped bleeding after 15
minutes.
 Blood is spurting from the wound.
 When the puncture wound is in the eye.
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 Trash Bags/Wastebaskets

 Don’t reach into wastebaskets or disposal

containers with bare hands, they could contain
broken glass or sharps.
 Sharp material poking through trash bags can
easily cut unprotected hands or legs.
 Check trash bags before lifting to see if they
are overloaded or likely to break.
 Lift plastic bags from their tie-off point and
paper bags by their edges whenever possible
and hold bags away from the body.
 Never “bear hug” a bag.

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Report On-the-Job Injuries!

Report any on-the-job injuries to your Supervisor

as soon as possible, and make sure an injury
report is completed a.s.a.p.

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 Review

To Prevent Cuts, Scrapes and Punctures:

• Wear the proper PPE when working with hand

tools or handling metal with sharp edges or
window/door glass.
• Do not pick up broken glass with your bare
hands.
• Do not carry hand tools or utility knives in your
pocket.
• Cut away from yourself when using a knife.
• Think safety, work safely!

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 Contact Information

Health & Safety Training Specialists

1171 South Cameron Street, Room 324
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501
(717) 772-1635
RA-LI-BWC-PATHS@pa.gov

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Questions

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