We all use our hands a great deal without really thinking about it. Because hands are used so much, they are prone to injury from many hazards. OSHA requires companies to look for hand hazards in its work areas, minimize those hazards, and properly train workers about hand protection for those workers who require it. The following statistics demonstrate the need for effective hand protection:
• About 500,000 work-related injuries occur to hands, fingers, and arms each year.
• About one-quarter of all work-related injuries is to the fingers and hands.
• Injuries to fingers and thumbs are second on the list of most injured part of the body.
Hand hazards
Hand protection can only do so much. That's why your employer assesses each situation to see if hazards can be eliminated through engineering controls such as machine guards and improved design. If hazards remain after attempting to eliminate hand hazards, then your employer will provide hand protection for you and your co-workers.
Hand protection selection
Hand protection must fit your job. Your employer will consider factors like dexterity required, length of exposure time, exposure frequency, chemical exposure, and physical stress required on the job. Your employer looks at chemical, puncture, tear, and abrasion resistance when selecting appropriate hand protection. Many companies use various kinds of gloves and/or barrier creams, but you must know when they are and are not appropriate.
Company policy: For your safety, it is crucial that you understand and follow your company's procedures for hand protection. If you have any questions regarding how to protect your hands from injury on the job, ask your supervisor or check with the hand protection manufacturer.
Gloves:
• Leather gloves protect against sparks, moderate heat, blows, chips, and rough objects.
• Aluminized gloves are usually used for welding, furnace, and foundry work because they provide reflective and insulating protection against heat.
• Metal mesh gloves protect against lacerations. They do not insulate from heat or cold.
• Aramid fiber gloves are made from a synthetic material that protects against heat and cold. Aramid fiber is used to make durable gloves that are cut- and abrasion-resistant
• Fabric gloves can protect against dirt, slivers, chafing, and abrasion. These gloves do not provide sufficient protection to be used with rough, sharp, or heavy materials.
• Coated fabric gloves are useful for general-purpose hand protection and offer slip-resistant qualities.
• Plastic film gloves are used for sanitation and food processing operations.
• Chemical resistant gloves (butyl rubber, natural rubber latex, neoprene, nitrile) protect against corrosive, irritating, and corrosive chemicals like acids, cleansers, or solvents. No one type of chemical resistant glove can protect workers from ALL chemicals. See the manufacturer’s chemical resistance charts.
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