The document provides tips for safely working with sharp objects and protecting hands from injuries. It discusses: 1. How to prevent puncture wounds through good housekeeping and being careful with power tools. 2. The proper first aid for puncture wounds and signs of infection to watch for. 3. Different types of gloves that can protect hands in various situations like disposable gloves, rubber gloves, leather gloves, and metal mesh gloves. 4. Additional hazards for hands like machinery, chemicals, heat/cold, electricity, and repetitive motions. It stresses using safety devices, guards, and disconnecting power before repairing equipment.

1. PROTECT YOUR SKIN
How to work safely without cutting yourself
with sharp things

2.  2 things you should know about puncture wounds
1. How to prevent them
2. What to do if you get them
 Best way to protect yourself: keep a clean work area
• Be extra careful using power tools
 If you do get hurt: First aid and always treat a puncture wound with
special care
 Signs of infection:
• Redness
• Swelling
• Increased pain
 It mostly boils down to good housekeeping
BEWARE OF THOSE SHARP POINTED OBJECTS!!

3. Fits like a glove-the right glove can
protect you from injury
◦ Disposable gloves
 Lightweight plastic
 Mild irritants
 Germs
o Fabric
 Improve grip when handling slippery objects
 Protect from heat or cold
o Rubber gloves-neoprene, polyvinyl, or vinyl
 Protect against corrosives such as acids and petroleum products
o Leather gloves
 Protect against scrapes or sparks
 May be used with an insulated liner for electrical hazards

4. Fits like a glove-the right glove can
protect you from injury
◦ Metal Mesh gloves
 Protects from accidental cuts and scratches
 Used around cutting tools
o Aluminized Gloves
 Made of aluminized fabric
 Insulate hands from intense heat
 For working with molten materials

5. Hand Hazards
◦ Things that can hurt your hands:
 Machinery and tools with moving or cutting parts
 Corrosive chemicals
 Very hot or cold substances
 Work with electrical hazards
 Work that involves repetitive motion, like assembly line work

6. Hand Hazards
Always
◦ Be alert to hand hazards before an accident
can happen.
◦ Use push-sticks, guards, shields and other
safety devices designed for your equipment.
◦ Use brushes, not hands, to wipe away debris.
◦ Inspect equipment and machinery to make
sure it’s in good operating condition.
◦ Disconnect power before repairing or
cleaning machinery.
◦ Use the right personal protective equipment
such as gloves, guards or barrier creams.
◦ To avoid overuse problems, use tools
designed to keep wrists straight.
Never
◦ Never wear rings, jewelry or loose clothing
when using machinery.
◦ Never take shortcuts with safety
procedures.

7. THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE SAFETY HAZARDS
Elimination
Substitution
Engineering Controls
Administrative
Controls
PPE
Most
Effective
Least
Effective
Removal of
the Hazard
Replace
the hazard
Isolate people
from the
physical hazard
Change or
adjust work
patterns
Protect workers with
Personal Protective
Equipment

8. SOMETIMES IT GOES BEYOND JUST CUTS
• Some industries and types of work make hand injuries even more likely
– Example: The oil and gas industry work with heavy equipment with hands and machinery
usually coated in oil. This makes every task more slippery and difficult.
– Any type of work with slippery materials like oils makes cuts and injuries more likely.
• Even a minor cut can get infected and lead to something more serious (e.g. staph
infection)
• Gloves must also fit comfortably.
• Cuts are one of the most common ways for workers to
get hurt.

9. WHAT CAUSES SKIN INJURIES?
• Improper training
• Employees in a hurry, taking short cuts or not following safety procedures
• Failure to wear proper gloves for the job
• Contact with metal items such as nails
• Hand tools with blades (e.g. box cutters, screwdrivers, chisels)
• Powered machinery with cutting blades, pinch points, or rotating parts
• Sharp objects such as glass and sheet metal
• Improper tool for the job (e.g. using a screwdriver as a pry bar)
• Tools in poor condition (cracked handle, dull blade, slippery from chemicals)
• Missing or improperly adjusted guarding
• Poor housekeeping
• Poor lighting

10. How to use a knife/blade safely
• Wear proper safety gear: eyewear, gloves
• Use proper tool for the job
• Inspect your tool before using it
• Keep the item you are cutting secured; don’t hold work in hand while cutting
• Use a sharp blade. When disposing of blades, wrap the cutting edge with heavy
tape.
• Stand in well-balanced position
• Make sure the path of the cut is clear, and keep the non-cutting hand out of the
path of the cut.
• When cutting thick material, use several passes of the blade and apply more
downward pressure with each pass.
• Never use a cutting blade as a screwdriver, pry bar, or chisel
• Keep cutting tools covered

11. Box Cutters and Broken Glass
• Box Cutter Safety
• Use more passes of the blade instead of more force.
• How to use a box cutter safely
• Broken glass is bound to happen in a lab. If something is falling,
let it drop! Catching it may cause the glassware to break in your
hand.
• When cleaning broken glass, don’t use your hands.
 Tongs, tweezers, or forceps should be used to pick up large pieces of broken
glass.
• Sweep up broken glass on a dust pan
• Broken Glass Safety

12. Broken Glass
• Place broken glass in a rigid, puncture-resistant container (e.g.
sharps container/bucket)
• Since we don’t have a sharps container in the
lab, use a rigid, puncture-resistant container