Laceration

Prevention

DOE OE Committee March 11, 2014

Robert SelveySafety & Health Services Division

Personal Protective Equipment SME

Agenda

Background info on Lacerations - Injury Costs, Hazards, & Controls

Hazards- At Risk Tools; Surfaces

Control Measures- Safe tools; PPE

Self-Assessments (Surveillances)

BNL 2014 OSH Objective: Reduce Lacerations To prevent lacerations: expand implementation of craft engagement through tool replacement and employee awareness. Line organizations conduct review of work spaces for inappropriate cutting implements (i.e. razor blades, personal knives, etc.)

Target: 50% Reduction in laceration events.

The cost of Lacerations (besides pain and suffering)

National Safety Council estimates that each

laceration costs

$13,948$13,948

There are 439,000 439,000 disabling

hand and finger injuries each year in the US

Perform Self AssessmentsPerform Self AssessmentsSite level Target & Objective for 2014

Objective: Reduce Lacerations To prevent lacerations: Expand implementation of craft engagement through tool replacement and employee awareness. Line organizations conduct review of work spaces for inappropriate cutting implements and hazardous conditions

(i.e. razor blades, personal knives, sharp edges, pointed objects, etc.)

Target: 50% Reduction in laceration events.

Self-Assessments(Electronic Surveillances database)

Self-assessment(Surveillance)

Who? Anyone

4 questions:1. Sharp edges2. Puncture Hazards3. Cutting tools4. PPE in use

Self-assessment (Surveillance)

1a. Are sharp edges present (laceration hazards)b. Exposed fixed blades c. Sheet metal edges exposed (not de-burred)

2. Is there a puncture hazard present a. Unguarded rod ends b. Pointed objects present c. Knives or blades with pointed ends being used

HazardsHazards that create lacerations that create lacerations

ToolsTools with sharp surfaces Knives Razor blade tools (paint scrappers, box

cutter, Extacto®) Saws

SurfacesSurfaces with sharp edges & burrs Sheet metal with sharp, serrated edges Metal tubing burrs Glass edges and shards Thin surfaces- metal, paper, plastic

Protection by: Removal or covering sharp edges & Gloves (PPE)

Metal burr A raised edge or small pieces of material remaining on a work

piece. Created after machining operations, such as grinding, drilling,

milling, engraving or turning. It is removed by de-burring- Manual; Electrochemical; Thermal

energy; & Cryogenic

Punctures

Some likely sources to be considered in the surveillance:

Cut end of wire

Broken Glass/ Plastic

Barb Wire

Metal tubes, wire, pipes

Puncture PPE is different from Laceration PPE.

Protectsharp pointsSome likely controls to be considered in the surveillance: Barriers Covers

Self-assessment (Surveillance)

3. Are cutting tools with sharp blades used

a. Fixed blade cutting devices used (Risk Level 5)

b. Manually retracting blade cutting devices used (Risk Level 5)

c. Auto-retracting blade cutting devices used - auto retracts when pressure removed from trigger (Risk Level 4)

d. Smart-retracting blade cutting devices used - auto retracts on loss of contact with object even if pressure on trigger remains (Risk Level 3)

e. Concealed blade cutting devices being used (Risk Level 2)

f. Bladeless cutting tools used (Risk Level 1)

Traditional Cutting Traditional Cutting ToolsTools What they have in common:

BLADE IS EXPOSED even when it is not in contact with the cutting material

Somewhat safer Somewhat safer Cutting ToolsCutting Tools

What they have in common:

Tool has a trigger. The blade is exposed only when the trigger is engaged. But you must take pressure off the trigger for the blade to retract.

Better tools that Better tools that Lower Risk Lower Risk Safety features are automatic:

Blade self-retractsBlade is shielded when not cutting

As blade come further out based on friction with material being cut, Clutch on blade disengages. If friction is lost, blade snaps back in.

Safety Level Chart for TOOLS

5 levels

of safety

in tools

Level 5

Hazardous during:• Picking Up• Use• Storage

Level 4

• Safe during pickup• Hazardous during use• Safe storage

Level 3• Safe during picking up • Lower Hazard during use• Safe during storage

Level 2

No Hazard duringpicking up, use, or storage

Level 5

Manually Retractable & Fixed Blade KnifesNo Safety Features

Level 4

Spring Loaded Retractable Blade Knifes

Some Safety provided

Level 3

Smart KnifesAuto Retractable Blade Safety cannot be over-ridden under normal use

Level 2

Concealed Blade Safety Cutters Unexposed blade, can not be overridden under normal use

Level 1

Bladeless Safety Cutters No metal blades, can not be overridden under normal use

Safest Least Safe

Level 1

No metal blades

Recommended Safety Cutters

Several alternative style cutting devices were evaluated in 2012, including:

Level 3: Self Retracting blade Martego 122001 Megasafe 116006

Level 2: Concealed blade Combi 109137

Martego 122001 (Level 3)

Friction with material being cut keeps the blade out. If friction is lost, blade self- retracts.

Blade initially exposed by squeezing trigger.

BNL Stock

H20000$21.27

Megasafe 116006 (Level 3)

“Smart” Knife Safe alternative to fixed blade utility knives Blade automatically retracts when it leaves the

material being cut

BNL Stock

H20005$14.75

Combi 109137 (Level 2)

Concealed blade safety cutter Protects user and prevents accidental product

damage Safely cuts film, paper, shrink wrap, strapping,

banding and bag opening

Concealed bladeCuts straps

Blunt TipOpens packing tape

Not a BNL Stock Item

Combi 109137 (Level 2)

Self-assessment (Surveillance)

4. What PPE is being used a. No gloves being usedb. Non-cut-resistant gloves being used (eg. cotton/polyester) c. Non-resistant leather gloves being used (cowhide, pigskin, goat skin) d. Cut resistant fiber gloves being used (Kevlar, Dyneema, etc.) e. Cut resistant steel/fiber composite gloves being used f. Cut resistant stainless steel mesh gloves being used

Cut Resistant gloves Meet ASTM standards Best gloves are made of man-

made fibers Kevlar, Spectra, Dyneema; Steel

Gloves that are subject to cut risk (do not meet Cut Resistant criteria) Cotton; Leather, Nylon

Cut Cut Protective Protective GlovesGloves

Cut Resistant GlovesCut Resistant GlovesUsed for sheet metal handling and glass handling.

KevlarKevlar®® aramid fiber, 5x stronger than steel by weight. Flame, cut, and heat-resistance.

SpectraSpectra®® polyethylene fiber that offers high cut-resistance, even when wet. Its 10X stronger than steel by weight.

DyneemaDyneema® ® polyethylene fiber up to 15x stronger than quality steel by weight and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers.

Metal MeshMetal Mesh interlocked stainless steel mesh offers superior cut and puncture protection due to its strength. Poor comfort and fit. Conducts cold and heat.

Manufacturers use ASTM F-1790 for measuring cut protection Scale 0 – 6: Level 0 (least protective) to Level 6 (most protective).

3 - 4

3 – 4

3 – 4

6

Cloth glovesCloth gloves Cotton or nylon

woven fiber Dipped fabric

• Low cost, •Moderately durable, •Good for gripping if coated, •Poor to Fair laceration resistance•Poor for abrasion resistance•Very poor puncture resistanceScale: 0 - 1

Leather GlovesLeather Gloves

Deerskin Pig skin Goat skin Horse hide Cow hide

•Cost more than cotton, •Fair for gripping, • Low laceration resistanceScale 0 - 1•Very durable from abrasion, •High puncture resistant (best)

Puncture Resistance - LeatherPuncture Resistance - Leather

Cheapest Best

Cut ResistanceCut Resistance

Cut & Abrasion ResistanceCut & Abrasion Resistance

For cuts: Kelvar and Dyneema are 5x to 10x better than leather; Stainless Steel blends are the best.

For abrasion: leather is best

ConclusionsConclusions

Elimination of injuries from lacerations by:

Removing Sharp SurfacesSharp Surfaces (deburring and covering) Using Safer ToolsSafer Tools that reduce the exposure to sharp blades Wearing PPEPPE that is cut resistant

SURVEILLANCESSURVEILLANCES Evaluating situations to determine hazards & corrective

measuresGoal- Each organization conducts at least 3 surveillances in FY2014. Convey Laceration Safety techniques to personnel in your periodic

communications.

Samples of the safe cutting tools and PPE are on display in the PPE Demo Room (Building30) on Thursdays.

An Open House for science is planned in March where gloves and safe tools will be part of the exhibit.

Questions or comments?