Preventing Hand Injuries in the Workplace

Did you know that, according to recent reports, hand and finger injuries account for over 25% of all accidents in the workplace?*

While the safety and wellbeing of employees should be the number one concern and driving force behind safety plans, there are also financial implications when it comes to employee injuries. The same reports concluded that each hand injury could cost employers up to $25,000. From lost time to workers’ compensation claims, hand injuries can have a major impact on the bottom line.

There are ways to help prevent this—for the safety of workers, of course, and for the productivity of a business. Here are some ways to minimize and prevent hand injuries in manufacturing facilities:

• Analyze patterns: Are there certain trends that are related to hand injuries? Look at when, where, and how hand injuries occurred, as well as risk-reduction methods that worked (and those that didn’t).
• Assess and analyze the job hazards: Identify the sources of these injuries, and thoroughly monitor and measure all potential risks. Once you identify risks, conduct an analysis that can study all components thoroughly and lead to concrete methods of prevention.
• Employee training: Be sure every single employee takes part in ongoing hand-injury prevention training and awareness. They should be aware of all prevention techniques as well as all hand protection requirements and methods of use, and ways of identifying risks.
• Provide proper hand protection: Identify the right kind of protection (i.e. safety gloves when necessary) and be sure the protection meets all requirements and standards, is appropriate to the particular job, and is the right size for each employee.
• Continuous compliance and improvement: Regularly perform assessments of your safety plan and observations of all employee compliance. Keep communication open about safety procedures and goals, and adjust certain behaviors if necessary. Also be sure to communicate when positive behavior is being observed, as well as when negative behaviors are. Keep the conversations and plans ongoing and regular.

 

*http://www.ansellpro.com/main/pressRoom_whitePapers_details.asp?rId=35