Page 43 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2018

Remind employees to stay alert and focused, and offer them the op- portunity to take regular breaks to sit down, stretch, or take a walk.
traction, lack of education, or disregard for safety procedures. While, yes, negligence and inattentiveness are certainly a reason for injury, there is also an opportunity to increase preventative equipment and re- sources. In fact, in a 2015 study by DSM Dyneema, Majestic Glove, and the Ameri- can Society of Safety Professionals, more than 400 safety professionals were asked to identify the top reasons why they believed hand injuries occurred in the workplace. The results showed that the majority of respondents believed that lack of person- al protective equipment or cut-resistant gloves were to blame.
How Can Employers Prevent Hand Injuries in the Workplace? Preventing hand injuries in the workplace doesn’t have to be time consuming for em- ployers. In fact, simply establishing and enforcing a set of rules and expectations for workers alone can be beneficial. Ad- ditional steps can and should be taken to avoid costly injuries, time off work, and lack of productivity. Consider the following
a bone is moving one way and a tendon or ligament is moving or pulled in the oppo- site direction. A common avulsion injury occurs when a wedding ring or other piece of jewelry gets caught on machinery and pulls a small piece of bone that is attached to a tendon or ligament away from the main part of the bone. Detachments can occur the same way but are typically more serious and often involve entire fingers or hands becoming separated from the body.
4. Punctures
Punctures often involve sharp objects, such as nails, needles, knives, tacks, ma- chinery, or other tools. Punctures occur when one of these objects penetrates the skin and causes a wound that is typically narrower and deeper than a cut or scrape.
5. Fractures
A fracture, or a break in one of the bones of the hand, is often caused by trips, falls, and crushes. Fractures occur in the bones of the wrist and typically require weeks to months of recovery time.
At MedExpress, one of the nation’s larg- est occupational medicine and workers’ compensation providers, more than half of hand injuries seen as a result of work- ers’ compensation visits are due to open wounds, such as lacerations. MedExpress also commonly sees dislocations and sprains, as well as superficial injuries of the hand and wrist, such as bruises, abrasions, and blisters.
Where Are Hand Injuries
the Most Common?
Hand injuries are not limited to just one industry. They happen every day across a wide variety of jobs, companies, and work sites. They range from carpal tunnel syndrome in an office setting to burns at a chemical plant.
However, employees who work in con- struction and manufacturing industries may be at greater risk for hand injuries. Construction, for example, not only in- volves the use of hammers, saws, and oth- er tools, but also the regular use of large heavy machinery, including bulldozers, dump trucks, and cement mixers. These tools and machinery, when used incor- rectly, pose a risk for possible hand and arm injuries through crushing, pinching,
puncturing, and more. Employees in man- ufacturing also frequently operate large machinery, such as drill presses, lathes, and screw machines, that can pose a high risk for hand injuries.
When Are Hand Injuries
Most Likely to Occur?
Hand injuries can occur anytime. However, all too often, hand injuries occur when em- ployees are distracted and aren’t focused on where they are or what they’re doing. It’s incredibly important for employers to eliminate as many distractions as possible, especially in work areas where there is fre- quent use of heavy machinery or power tools. Remind employees to stay alert and focused, and offer them the opportunity to take regular breaks to sit down, stretch, or take a walk.
Why Are Hand Injuries So Common?
Hand injuries can often be blamed on dis-
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