You Need Hands

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You Need Hands
Hand Health and Safety Campaign
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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.
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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)

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Some typical Hand Finger Incidents

• 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

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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

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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).

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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.
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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 Doctor/Nurse.
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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.
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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.
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Personal Protective Equipment
If in doubt talk with your supervisor or HSE
Advisor 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.
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Wearing and Using Gloves Must Dos

• Select and use the right kind of glove for the
  job you are going to do.
• Select gloves that fit.
• Assess the risk any rings, watches, or bracelets
  that might cut/ tear your gloves or snag the
  wearers 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

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Wearing and Using Gloves Must Dos

• 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 - drills, lathes, etc.

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The following types of gloves are available
Kevlar Cut Resist Gloves with polka dot grips
NBR (Nitrile Buna Rubber) impregnated Rigger
Gloves
Hide Leather faced Rigger Gloves
Kevlar Cut Resist Gloves
Porous NBR Fully Coated Knit Wrist Edge Gloves
Vinyl disposable gloves. For food preparation or
laboratory work.
Black Rubber Gauntlets for chemical use
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ASSESS THE RISK
MATCH THE GLOVE TO THE HAZARD
Look for these commonly used pictograms they will
help you decide
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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.

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Remember!
Your hands are one of your greatest assets.
PROTECT THEM !
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Discussion Point

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

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What can we do?

• Assess the risk
• Permit To Work
• Task Risk Assessment
• Review Procedures
• Personal Risk Awareness
• SHOC Data Sheets

• Everyone in the field exposes their hands to risk
  of injury. We need to eliminate the hazard or
  reduce the risk to As Low As Reasonably Practical
  (ALARP)

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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..

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. And Finally!

• Dont 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
!!!!