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Hand Safety –Part-2

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ContentsGlove SelectionHand ToolsFixed, Open Blade KnivesOther Hand Hazards:

PinchesChemical and thermal burns Jewelry and loose clothing

Conclusions

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Some Hand Injury FactsNearly 25% of work injuries involve hands

or fingers.70% of the injured workers were not

wearing gloves.30% of the injured workers were wearing

improper or damaged gloves.

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Work RulesA Site Specific Health and Safety Plan will

be prepared that identifies and mitigates hazards that could be encountered for the job being performed.

The hand is involved in every job done in the field.

Therefore, the HASP must identify hazards to the hands and the steps that will be taken to protect them.

HASP

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Gloves to Protect Against Physical Hazards

HAZARD TYPE OF GLOVE  

Light Duty Cotton, Leather, Rubber Coated or Kevlar  

Medium Duty Leather or Kevlar

Heavy Duty Kevlar (exposure to sharp or jagged metal, glass, box cutters, etc), stainless core (stainless steel woven into material), HexArmorTM

High Temperature Kevlar/Nomex/Fibreglass  

Low Temperature Insulating Gloves  

Puncture Resistance Aramid, HexArmorTM

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String Knit Gloves with Kevlar and Plastic Dots

Cut, slash, heat and abrasion resistance, dexterity, launderable

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Rubber Coated Kevlar

Puncture resistance, good ventilation and dexterity, good for glass handling or when glass may be encountered.

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Cut Resistance and Grip

Kevlar®, Spectra® and Stainless Steel construction. Polyurethane coating provides slip resistant grip.

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Glove Guard Glove Retainer

www.gloveguard.com

Have them available at all times

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Rules for theSafe Use of Hand Tools

Select the right size tool for the job. Don’t use “cheaters” and avoid pulling old tools from the waste stream. There’s a reason why they were thrown away!

Always inspect tools before use and replace or repair work or damaged tools.

Always keep the cutting edges sharp and never test a cutting edge with your finger.

When working on an elevated surface (ladder, truck, scaffold), ensure your tools are secure. Falling tools can cause serious injury.

Always carry your tools correctly and never put sharp or pointed tools in your pocket.

When carrying hand tools, always point the cutting edge to the ground.

Always keep your tools in a dry place to prevent rust.

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Screwdrivers Most screwdrivers are not designed to be

used on electrical equipment. Use an insulated screwdriver for electrical work.

Do not hold an object in the palm of one hand and press a screwdriver into it; place the object on a bench or table.

Never hammer with a screwdriver. Never use a screwdriver with a broken

handle, bent or burred blade, etc.

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PliersDo not use pliers as a substitute for hammers or

wrenches.Use insulated pliers when doing electrical work. Inspect the pliers frequently to make certain that

they are free of breaks or cracks.

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Hammers

Check for defects before using. If the hammer head shows signs of mushrooming, replace it immediately.

Handles may be wood, tubular or solid steel or fiberglass. Never use any hammer with a loose handle. Fix it or replace it before the head flies off and causes injury to you or someone else.

Replace or tighten loose handles with the proper wedges; never use nails or staples for wedges.

If a steel or fiberglass handle is loose, it is more difficult to repair than a wooden one. Some fiberglass handles can be tightened with the aid of a repair kit with epoxy materials, as can metal handles.

Use the correct hammer for the type of work to be done.

Always wear safety glasses, particularly when using a ball peen hammer.

Have an unobstructed swing when using a hammer and watch for overhead interference.

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Wrenches Select the correct size of wrench for the job. Never use a pipe wrench as a wrench handle extension. Too much leverage can ruin a tool and cause injury. To avoid sudden slips, stand in a balanced position and

always pull on the wrench instead of pushing against the fixed jaw, particularly when a pinch point is created.

Whenever possible use a box end wrench instead of an open end wrench to avoid slipping.

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ChiselsAlways wear safety goggles or a face shield when

using a chisel.Drive chisels outward and away from your body.Do not use chisels to pry.Keep edges sharp for most effective work and

protect when not in use.

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Knives Use an alternative cutter that is suitable for the job

whenever possible (see Alternative Tools, below). Always perform a job safety analysis when the use of a

knife is the only alternative. Always cut away from the body. Always keep hands and body clear of the knife stroke. Make sure there is plenty of space around you when

using a knife. Always keep the blades sharp. Never use a knife as a screwdriver.

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Other Sharp Objects Broken glass – never attempt to clean up broken

glass with the hands; always use a broom and dustpan, tongs, or other appropriate tools.

Auger stems – never attempt to remove objects caught in an auger stem with the bare hand. Always use a tool or wear the appropriate cut resistant gloves.

Hypodermic needles – at uncontrolled or old sites, always be aware that drug activity could have been taking place at the site. Always wear puncture resistant gloves when clearing debris from these sites.

Debris – demolition debris can be rife with sharp surfaces and objects. Always wear cut/puncture resistant gloves when clearing demolition debris.

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Fixed, Open Blade Knives PolicyUncontrolled and improper use of utility

knives, multi-tools (i.e, Leatherman) and pocket knives, collectively known as Fixed, Open-Bladed Knives (FOBKs), is a safety liability.

Training programs (hand safety, tool safety, PPE, etc.) alone are not effective in eliminating hand lacerations injuries caused by FOBKs. They’re just too easy and tempting to use.

Our goal is elimination of FOBKs on sites.

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ContextFOBKs are tools that have an exposed, prominent,

sharp-edged blade that is fixed or can be locked into a fixed position.

Examples of FOBKs include pocket knives, multi-tools, hunting knives, and standard utility knives.

“Complacency factor” - Knives are dangerous tools. However, they are so common place that their hazards are often underestimated or ignored.

The uncontrolled and improper use of FOBKs is a common factor in hand injuries (lacerations) reported within our industry.

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Safer Alternative ToolsMost of the tasks we perform using FOBKs

can be performed equally well, if not better, using safety knives or alternative cutting tools (shears, tube cutters, or specialty cutting tools).

Common tasks performed on sites using FOBKs include: Cutting twine, tubing, plastic/rubber sheeting Cutting open packages (boxes, bags) Cutting PVC piping Cutting Geoprobe soil sample liners

There are safer alternatives readily available on the market that can effective accomplish these tasks while providing additional protection to site workers.

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Practice and GuidelinesThe use of safety knives and alternative

tools is standard, unless these is not a safer, more effective substitute..

If an FOBK will be used on site, the hazards associated with FOBK must be outlined in the HASP.

Health and Safety Plan

Workers that use FOBKs must have training in the safe use of that tool and any associated PPE.

This practice applies to subcontractors as well as URS employees.

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Use of Alternative Tools Alternative cutting tools have risks associated with them.

Each tool has a sharp cutting blade (although it is usually protected or self-retracting). Also, during initial use, employees will be unfamiliar with them. Employees using these tools must:

Be trained how to use them safely self retracting or guarded knives typically have a lever which

must be engaged to expose the cutting blade shears and scissors are guarded only by the limit of the jaws

opening Wear the proper PPE when necessary

The use of safety knives or specialty cutting tools may mean that one tool will no longer accomplish all cutting tasks on-site. A tool belt or other tool carrying device may help workers transport and access these tools efficiently.

Unlike FOBKs, alternative tools may not be sharpenable. Discard when dull or if the blade has been bent or burred.

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Safer Alternative ToolsTypes of safety knives or alternative cutting

tools: Self-retracting utility knives (brands - OLFA,

Martor, Allway Tools)

Note: The mention of any product or company on this page does not constitute an endorsement.

Guarded utility knives (brands – The Safety Knife co., Martor)

Shears, snips, scissors (brands – Ridgid, Craftsman, Wolfcraft)

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Safer Alternative ToolsTypes of safety knives or alternative cutting tools:

Concealed blade cutters (brands - The Safety Knife Co., Martor)

Note: The mention of any product or company on this page does not constitute an endorsement.

Pipe cutters (brands – Rigid, Empire)

Specialty cutter (brand – Geoprobe)

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Safer Alternative Tools - Ratcheting ToolsTools like these are equipped with a ratcheting

mechanism that allows easier, incremental squeezing or twisting effort to operate the tool, easing the strain on hands and wrists.

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Pinches Pinch Points are found between a moving object and

stationary object, or between two continuously moving objects.

Pinch points can be found in many operations, most notably drilling.

A thorough Job Safety Analysis must be performed prior to starting work to identify pinch points and the steps to be taken to avoid them.

Unlike most hand hazards, gloves cannot protect against pinch points. There are no steel-fingered gloves, like steel-toed shoes.

Therefore, never place your hand/fingers or any other part of your body in pinch points. Always use push sticks, guards, shields, and other devices as appropriate.

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Ever Think of This as a Pinch Point?

Keep your hands and feet inside cabs and cages of equipment.

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Lots of Pinch Points Here on an Old Rig

Here

Here

Here

Here

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Here’s the Major One

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Things to Beware Of in Evaluating Pinch Points

Equipment that swings – like the auger stem on a drilling rig. Don’t try to stop the swing unless you have the proper tool to do so. Never use your hands alone.

Doorways – when going through doors, never handle objects by the sides that will potentially contact the jamb.

Wear gloves while moving heavy objects to ensure a firm, non-slip grip, and be aware that losing control of something heavy can cause smashed hands. Don’t try to catch it – let it drop. Equipment is replaceable, your hands are not.

Automated Equipment - Be alert when working around automated equipment, including remote or motor operated valves. Relays, delay timers, and remote controllers can cause equipment to open, close or "start up" without warning. Never put you hands in the line of fire for this type of equipment.

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Chemical Resistance

For information on chemical resistant gloves, refer to websites such as ChemRest at: http://www.chemrest.com/

or refer to the MSDS for the chemical being handled.

Glove materials include latex, nitrile, butyl rubber, PVC, neoprene, Viton and Silver Shield.

For the chemicals most often encountered in URS fieldwork (gasoline, diesel fuel, BTEX), Viton and nitrile are the best selection for chemical resistance.

Note: The mention of any product or company on this page does not constitute an endorsement.

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Burns Hot Spots - Certain types of machinery, like air

compressors, have built-in heaters or generate heat. Hot areas on these machines can cause serious burns. Leather gloves can protect your hands from hot spots.

Frostbite – Work in cold, windy areas can lead to frostbite in a matter of minutes. Specialty gloves are available.

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Jewelry and Loose Clothing Jewelry and sleeves can easily get caught in moving

machinery, particularly drilling rigs.

Always remove all jewelry before beginning work and make sure sleeves are rolled up above the elbow, if appropriate.

California Standard - Wrist watches, rings, or other jewelry should not be worn while working with or around machinery with moving parts in which such objects may be caught, or around electrically energized equipment. (8 CCR 7.2.10.3384).

Jewelry should also not be worn if it could compromise the integrity of the hand protection (such as puncturing gloves).

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ConclusionsProper hand protection is the result of 4 factors:

A complete assessment of the hazards to the hand for the work being done.

The proper use of personal protective equipment identified in the Health and Safety Plan.

The proper selection of the safest tools to do the job. Auditing and reinforcement of the proper behaviors.

The hand is one of the most important tools; another is the brain – use both carefully.