This presentation discusses hand safety in the workplace. It notes that hands are unique and valuable tools that allow skilled work. Common hand injuries are reviewed, along with case studies of injuries caused by improper lifting, tool placement, and fatigue. The presentation recommends following the hierarchy of controls to eliminate hazards, such as using lifting tools instead of hands. It also stresses focusing on tasks, proper tool use, housekeeping, and using task-specific gloves as the last line of defense. Overall, the goal is to raise awareness of hand hazards and promote controls to reduce injuries.

1. H
*Warning: This pres
Hand and Knife S
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and Safetya d Sa ety
Ella Agbettor
SHEQ FoundationSHEQ Foundation
sentation contains graphic photographs
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2. Hand Safety
Why is Hand Safety Important?
o Human hands are unique.
o They have many attributes which io They have many attributes which i
grip, precision, push, hold, grasp and
o Your hands are the tools that make yo
skilled & valued workerskilled & valued worker.
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nclude strengthnclude, strength,
lock.
ou a highly
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3. Common Hand Injuries
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4. Learning from the Past
1. Whilst lifting and positioning
the operator’s right hand becamethe operator’s right hand became
The operator sustained a lacera
treatment.
Causes: Failure to identify the ha
e.g. crush hazards and pinch poi
2 An experienced contractor tra2. An experienced contractor tra
operating a pneumatic impact gu
torque arm and the nut and accid
injury required surgery.
Causes: Incorrect placement of s
design.
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g a container in a lay down area,
e trapped against another containere trapped against another container.
ation which required medical
azards caused by lifting equipment,
nts.
pped his left finger whilepped his left finger while
n. He placed his finger between the
dently pushed the start button. The
supporting hand, fatigue and tooling
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5. What can we do to preven
2. Use the Hierarchy of Cont
d it f h d i j iand severity of hand injuries
Eli
task
Subs
push spush s
Enginee
hand tools,
Administrat
hazard identifica
PPE: Task-specific
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nt hand injuries
trol to reduce the likelihood
:
mination: Hands-free lifting tools, tag lines,
k / lift planning, appropriate lay down areas
stitution: Alternative cutting devices, using
ticks to guide loadsticks to guide loads
ering controls: Ergonomically-designed
, machine guarding, ongoing maintenance
tive controls: Facilitating toolbox talks,
ation forms, Permit to Work, isolations.
c gloves are the last line of defence
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6. What can we do to preven
3. Safe Use of Tools and Ma
Ensure that appropriate safeguard
• Ensure safeguards are on machinery and a
and hot surfaces
t ti iBe mindful of rotating equipme
• No loose clothing, i.e. sleeves rolled up whe
• Do not wear gloves and jewellery (including
• Hands should be kept out of the way of rota• Hands should be kept out of the way of rota
• Ensure tool rests are properly adjusted
• Ensure hand tools/equipment are not stored
headstock
• Ensure guards are in placeEnsure guards are in place
• If the operator has long hair, a hair net must
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nt hand injuries
achinery
ds are in place
djusted to provide better protection, e.g. sparks
tent
en using lathes, mills, pedestal drills etc.
watches) where there is a risk of entanglement
ating equipmentating equipment
d on top of equipment. e.g. on top of the lathe
t be worn
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7. What can we do to preven
3. Safe Use of Tools and Ma
Clamp your work to a flat surface be
U li t h ld ll t l bj t thUse pliers to hold small metal objects th
cutting surface.
Use the right tool for the jobUse the right tool for the job
• Do you need to use a power tool to com
• Inspect tools carefully before use
• Use the tool the correct way
• Clean up equipment and tools after use
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nt hand injuries
achinery cont.
efore beginning to drill
h t d t b d h ldhat need to be ground or held near a
mplete the task?
e
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8. What can we do to preven
4. Focus on the task:
• Stay vigilant; maintain continual aw
hazards, surroundings and adjacentg j
• Ask yourself and others “what coul
constantly
• Be mindful of where you are placiny p
many incidents are a result of poor p
supporting hand
• Do not rush or cut corners, no matte
• Follow rules and use the right pro
equipment for the job
• Maintain focus when completing a ro
• Manage you and your team’s fatigu
breaks
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nt hand injuries
wareness of
work
ld go wrong?”
ng your hands -g y
placement of the
r how small the job
ocedure and
outine task
ue – take regular
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9. What can we do to preven
5. Housekeeping and Hygien
• Keep work areas tidy; reduce the
slips, trips & falls.
• Return tools and hazardous substa
appropriate storage place.
• Wash hands regularly
• Use barrier creams to preven
irritations
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nt hand injuries
ne
likelihood of
ances to the
nt skin
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10. What can we do to preven
6. Hand Protection – task-sp
When s
as a mi
Job ac
Correc
MSDS
chemic
Reme
of de
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nt hand injuries
pecific gloves
selecting gloves please review the following
inimum:
ctivities – Risk Assess Job
ct Size – Do not wear oversized gloves
S if required – Does the task requireq q
cal resistance?
ember – gloves are the last line
efence!
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11. Discussion Prompts – Han
• Does anybody in the team know of p
suffered hand injuries?
A k h ll ho Ask them to tell the story…
• Is anyone in the work group doing a
today?
• What are the hazards to our han
area today?
• What controls are in place?
o Where do these controls sit in the
Control?
• Which type of glove is appropriate fWhich type of glove is appropriate f
you using the correct type of glove to
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nd Safety
people who have
similar task
ds in the work
e Hierarchy of
for this task? Arefor this task? Are
oday?
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12. Hand Safety Poster
• Hand injuries are the most co
• Take the time to identify the haza
• Use the Hierarchy of Control t
hand injuries
• Be mindful where you are puttinBe mindful where you are puttin
• Gloves are the last line of def
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ommon type of injury
rds to our hands
to reduce the likelihood and severity of
g your hands at all timesg your hands at all times
fence!
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