Did you know? Our hands consist of 27 bones, including 8 in the wrist, in addition to nerves, tendons, muscles and ligaments. That’s a lot to keep safe when working in hazardous environments.
We thought it would be helpful to run over 7 different types of possible hand injuries, read on to find out more…
1. LACERATIONS & CUTS
This is the most common of hand injuries in the workplace. Minor injuries of this type can include small scratches or cuts to the surface of the skin, which can be easily treated and are quick to heal. However, if nerves or tendons are severed, the injury can prove much more serious and have permanent consequences.
The best way to protect yourself from a laceration & cut is to wear a cut resistant safety glove with the correct cut level protection when working with sharp objects, tools or machinery.
2. PUNCTURES
Punctures are most commonly caused by handling sharp objects, machinery or tools. Improper use of such tools and machinery is one of the greatest hazards to a worker, resulting in injuries which can often lead to lost days at work and trauma for the individual - both of which can be avoided through proper use and maintenance of tools and machinery.
3. SKIN IRRITATION
Irritations to the skin, such as rashes and blisters, are caused by exposure to hazardous substances or even soaps and detergents. Whilst the symptoms are usually mild, some cases can lead to dermatitis which is an inflammation of the skin. This can sometimes become so severe that the sufferer cannot continue to work.
The TG1140 is perfect for those with sensitive skin as it is OEKO-TEX approved (that means every component has been tested for harmful substances and is harmless (In human ecological terms))
4. BURNS
The most common burns that happen in the workplace are thermal, electrical or chemical.
Thermal burns occur when the individual is exposed to flames, steam and hot surfaces or liquids.
Electrical burns happen when a current passes through the body but meets resistance in the body's tissues, resulting in heat burn injuries.
Chemical burns are the result of hazardous substances which cause a chemical change in the skin. These burns continue to do damage until the chemical is washed away or the chemical reaction is complete.
For thermal burns Traffi have a wide range of options, the LXT range offers hot contact heat resistant up to 100C.
5. SPRAINS & STRAINS
It may seem counter-intuitive, but many hand injuries actually involve your feet. Employees who slip on surfaces or trip over obstacles will often land heavily on their hands, causing wrist and hand injuries.
Repetitive motion can also lead to problems such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), otherwise known as Upper Limb Disorder (ULD).
6. FRACTURES & BROKEN BONES
When blunt trauma occurs, it is often around moving equipment and machinery. Due to the force and weight usually involved, the consequences of these injuries can be severe, including fractures and broken bones.
7. AMPUTATIONS
This is the most extreme kind of injury, resulting in loss of all or part of the hand. Nowadays such hand injuries are rare, but not unheard of, and are often caused by crushing due to moving equipment or machinery.
REDUCING THE RISK
Properly selected and used safety gloves are a simple and effective way of reducing risks to hands in the workplace. Our range offers gloves which provide protection against a wide range of hand injuries.
To find out more about the different types of gloves we offer and how they could reduce hand injuries throughout your business, please get in touch today.
