n3 Supplier NZ Safety Blackwoods weighs in on why hand protection is a critical consideration for keeping your staff safe from harm. They highlight the common injuries to watch out for, and how they can be avoided with the correct safety equipment.
Hand protection is all about saving your hands from any sort of injury at work. Hands are vital tools in almost everything we do, and therefore most vulnerable to injuries as well. Very often, hands are exposed to hazardous conditions such as sharp edges, pinch points, dangerous machinery, hot objects, electricity, splinters and chemicals – to name just a few. Keep your hands protected and they’ll last you a lifetime.
Whether you’re on a farm or in an office, potential hazards are everywhere. The most common types of hand injuries include the following:
Traumatic injury can occur when hands and fingers get caught, pinched or crushed in chains, wheels, rollers or gears of various machinery, and get cuts to the skin, tendons, blood vessels and nerves, skin punctures, perforations, abrasions, irritation, bone fractures and sprains.
Contact or permeation injury occurs when our hands come in contact with corrosive liquids, solvents, acids, detergents, flammable liquids and other substances and permeated through the skin. This can cause chemical burns or injure tissue, cause skin irritation, allergic dermatitis, major organ damage, carcinogenic effects – the list goes on.
Repetitive motion injury occurs when jobs require repeated, rapid hand movements for a long period of time. Most of these injuries are musculoskeletal disorders.
Thermal injury occurs due to high temperatures of some equipment, or via fire while handling hot parts, welding/cutting, etc. Thermal injury occurs in the form of burns, dermatitis, frostbite and blisters.
What Glove Do I Need?
NZ Safety Blackwoods has a wide range of hand protection to suit every activity, from light athletic grip through to heavy duty cut resistant. Our knowledgeable team are on hand instore to help you with advice and assistance in product selection, to ensure and your team are kept safe. Or visit our website for more information on our comprehensive range.
5 Tips to Keep Hands Safe
- Wear PPE. Wearing the appropriate gloves is non-negotiable when it comes to hand safety. Make sure they fit well, and are kept in good working order.
- Use safe, well-maintained equipment and tools. Good for your equipment, and safer for you.
- Stretch and Flex. If you’re doing the same, repetitive movements for long periods of time, you can ease the strain by stretching your fingers, hands, wrists and forearms.
- Be Aware. Always be aware of what you’re touching and where your hands are going when you’re working.
- Take Your Time, Be Prepared. Before starting any task, make sure you have your ducks in a row. Check the work area for clutter that may cause a distraction. Are gloves on and do they fit well? Equipment all ship-shape? Are all safety protcols being adhered to?
