The most common type of injuries at UCOR this year are associated with hands. With 11 hand injuries so far, these injuries have more than doubled from the previous year. Two of these events resulted in lacerations that required medical attention beyond first aid.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 1 million workers need emergency medical care due to severe hand injuries each year, making it the highest total number of injured body parts. Most reported hand injuries involve lacerations, punctures, crushes, fractures, burns, and repetitive strains.
No matter what type of work we do, we are always using our hands. Consider the following recommendations to prevent hand-related injuries:
• Use the appropriate tool for the job.
• Wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). Talk to your supervisor and review the job hazard analysis or glove matrix if in doubt about PPE requirements
• Be mindful of your surroundings and proactively identify potential hazards.
• Take care to keep your hands out of harm’s way.
• Inspect tools, equipment, and PPE before and after use.
• Use mechanical lifting aids to avoid strain.
• Take breaks when performing repetitive tasks.
• Report even minor incidents to help prevent future events which could result in more serious consequences.
