Hand Protection

Hands are the most commonly injured body part in the work area, and without a finger or 2 the employee will most likely not be able to perform their duty as required, resulting in disability claims.

One thing that need to be noted is that most hand injuries are due to human error or negligence. The employer can only do that much to ensure a safe work area; the best prevention is the knowledge and understanding of the equipment the employees are using; the employer also needs to ensure all equipment are fully functional and in working order; with all of this in place the injuries will be drastically reduced.

Even though injuries cannot be fully avoided at work, using the correct personal protective equipment will reduce the effect of the hazard.

Let’s look at the possible injuries and the potential hazards that cause these injuries. This will assist you in identifying these in your work area and select the correct gloves for the application at your work space.  

Possible injuries that can occur are cuts, punctures, fractures, crushes, infections, burns and amputations. Not all work environments will have the same risks. Identifying the potential risk and hazards in your work area is the starting point for choosing the correct protection for your employee’s hands.

The main hazards can be identified as; Mechanical, Chemical, Thermal and Electrical.

🧤  Mechanical: Mechanical hazards are present when working with different machinery or equipment. Common injuries resulting from mechanical hazards involve cuts, scrapes, various abrasions, or even crushing. Protective gloves can be used in mechanical situations based on the type of equipment that is being utilized. For instance, sheet metal workers may use cut resistant gloves to prevent hand injuries stemming from sharp edges on sheet metal.

🧤 Chemical: Chemical hand hazards are tricky since damage doesn’t always appear right away, sometimes it may take years of exposure to a chemical to start seeing physical damage. Based upon the type of chemical exposure, the skin on the hands may become burned, scaly, contract chronic skin diseases, or even become cancerous. A barrier type of glove that does not allow liquid to pass through is usually the most effective when it comes to chemical hand protection.

🧤 Thermal: Thermal hazards are hazards that deal with temperature. However, it is important to remember that excessive levels of cold temperatures can be almost as damaging as excessive heat. Thermal hazards include burns, dry and cracked skin, and loss of fingers. Extreme cold temperatures impede grip which can lead to even further health hazards. Thermal rated, heat resistant gloves are the best protection against thermal hand hazards.

🧤 Electrical: Many different occupations feature different electrical hand hazards. The hands are at an increased risk because the hands are often the body part that is touching the live electrical components. Rubberized, insulated electrical gloves are the best option for electrical protection.

Now that you know the hazard; you can contact us to assist in choosing the correct glove for your employees. We have expert consultants that can assist you in your every need.

https://www.jdcdigital.co.za/