Keeping Hands Protected

Regulations and recommendations for a hand safety program.

By Alexandra Walsh

Millions of workers get injured on the job every year, and many of these injuries involve hands. According
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, hand and finger injuries are some of the most common workplace injuries.

Depending on how severe, these injuries not only have huge associated medical costs, they’re also expensive in terms of lost productivity and wages. However, hand injuries are also the number one preventable industrial injury.

Regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provide a comprehensive framework for hand safety in the workplace, combining mandatory standards with research-based best practices.

OSHA Regulations

OSHA mandates that employers protect workers from hand injuries by providing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves. In addition, employers are responsible for:

• Hazard assessment: Employers must evaluate their workplace and jobsites to identify all potential hazards to hands and document where hand protection is required.
• General requirements (29 CFR 1910.138): Employers must select and require the use of hand protection when employees are exposed to hazards that involve:
  -Skin absorption of harmful substances
  -Severe cuts, lacerations, and abrasions
  -Punctures
  -Chemical, thermal, or extreme temperature burns
• Training: Employees must be trained to recognize:
  -When hand protection is necessary
  -The correct type of PPE for the task
  -How to properly wear, care for, and maintain the equipment
  -Limitations of the PPE in protecting hands
• Employer-paid PPE: Employers are required to pay for gloves and other hand protection when it is used to comply with OSHA standards.
• Proper fit: Hand protection must fit properly to prevent it from restricting movement or being caught in running machinery.
• Machine guarding: If it moves, it should be guarded. OSHA standards require machine guards to prevent hands and fingers from being exposed to rotating parts, sharp objects, and pinch points.

Engineering Controls

A comprehensive approach to hand safety involves a ranking or order of controls, starting with eliminating or reducing hazards and moving up to supplying PPE along with training.

Engineering controls are the most effective method for hand safety because they remove the hazard at its source, rather than relying on worker behavior. Controls include:

• Machine guarding: Physical barriers should be installed on all machines to prevent contact with moving parts such as pinch points, rotating parts, and cutting blades. Guards should be robust, difficult to tamper with, and not create new hazards.
• Ergonomic tool selection: Choose tools that reduce physical stress on hands and wrists by minimizing force, repetition, and awkward grips. NIOSH recommends tools with handles that allow for a straight wrist, provide a firm grip, and are balanced to reduce strain.
• Automated processes: Where feasible, use automated feeding or ejection devices to keep hands away from the point of operation.
• Insulated tool handles: For work involving vibrations, such as with power tools, select handles made from wood or fiberglass over metal to reduce nerve damage. Anti-vibration mounting can also help reduce exposure.

OSHA mandates that employers protect workers from hand injuries by providing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves.

Administrative Controls

Administrative controls are policies and procedures that change work practices to reduce risk. Among these are:

• Hazard awareness: Employees must be trained to recognize and report hand-related hazards, including pinch points and potential impact zones.
• Lockout/Tagout: Always use LOTO procedures to de-energize and secure machinery before performing maintenance or repairs.
• Safe work zones: Use push sticks or holders for feeding materials into machinery to keep hands out of the “line of fire.” Use a vise or clamps to secure work and avoid holding by hand. Always use a safety knife with a retractable blade when appropriate, instead of an open-bladed knife.
• Breaks and task rotation: Implement regular breaks and rotate tasks to reduce repetitive strain and muscle fatigue.
• Tool maintenance: Conduct regular inspection and maintenance of tools and machinery, as a poorly functioning tool can increase vibration and the force required to operate it.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE such as gloves are a crucial last line of defense when engineering and administrative controls cannot fully eliminate a hazard. For hand safety, NIOSH recommends:

• Ergonomic tools: Select tools that reduce the amount of force, repetition, and awkward hand positioning required to perform a task. Ergonomic tools are designed to fit the hand and the job, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Proper tool selection:
  -Choose a tool that keeps the wrist straight during use.
  -Select handles with a proper diameter (1.25 to 2 inches for a power grip) and length (at least 4 to 6
  inches) to prevent contact pressure on the palm.
  -For tools that produce vibration, choose materials like wood or fiberglass over metal to reduce nerve
  damage over time.
• Select the right gloves: Match the glove material and features to the specific hazard. Examples include:
  -Impact-resistant gloves with reinforced back-of-hand protection for work with heavy machinery or
  potential impact hazards.
  -Cut-resistant gloves for handling sharp objects or using knives.
  -Chemical-resistant gloves for hazardous chemicals, using materials like nitrile, neoprene, or butyl
  rubber. Always verify the glove’s resistance for the specific chemical.
  -Insulated gloves for handling extremely hot or cold materials.
• Ensure a proper fit: Gloves should fit snugly but not be too tight, which can cause fatigue. Loose-fitting gloves can get caught in machinery.
• Regularly inspect and replace: Before each use, inspect gloves for discoloration, punctures, or tears and replace them as needed.
• Know when not to wear gloves: Gloves should not be worn near rotating machinery, as they can get caught and pull hands into the moving parts.

Employee Training and Hygiene

Proper training and personal hand care are essential components of a robust hand safety program. A good hand safety program will instruct the following to employees:

• Remove jewelry: Rings, watches, and bracelets should be removed before operating machinery, as they can be caught and cause severe injury.
• Wash hands properly: Teach employees to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after removing gloves and after handling hazardous substances.
• Stay focused: Train workers to stay alert and focused on the task at hand, avoiding distractions. Always remain aware of your hand placement and surroundings.
• First aid for all injuries: Be sure all injuries, no matter how minor, are reported and receive appropriate first aid.
• Training and awareness:
  -Before working on machinery, shut it down and use lockout/tagout procedures to prevent unexpected startup.
  -Use engineering controls such as machine guards and never bypass safety features.

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A thorough hand safety program is essential for companies in the groundwater industry. Injuries to hands are costly and lead to downtime, cutting into profits. Make sure your company’s safety meetings regularly go over the importance of keeping hands protected.

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Alexandra Walsh is the vice president of Association Vision, a Washington, D.C.–area communications company. She has extensive experience in management positions with a range of organizations.