Toolbox Talk - Hand And Finger Protection

Hand and finger safety is important. We rely on our hands to perform

countless tasks ranging from the finest of work to holding and
supporting heavy weights or loads. Our hands consist primarily of:

The bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles and tissue which facilitate

movement.

Nerves which enable us to feel things.

Skin acting as a protective barrier against germs and foreign

materials.
There are many situations that have the potential to cause harm to
our hands and fingers. It is important that we identify hazards and
stop accidents from occurring.
Injuries that may occur from coming into contact with hazards may
include:
Burns - from coming into contact with hot substances or chemicals
such as acids and alkalis.
Amputations - Jewelry, ie dress / wedding rings have the potential to
cause injury to fingers if caught on machinery etc.
Cuts, abrasions and splinters can be sustained when our hands
come in contact with sharp objects.
Nerve damage can be sustained as result of sharp impact or other
trauma sustained by the hand such as severe cuts, burns or crushing.
Dermatitis skin damage may result if prolonged and repeated
exposure to chemicals or solvents occurs.
Before starting any new task it is important to assess risks and plan to
get the job done safely. Preventing accidents and injury should be
the number one priority. Risk assessment should be performed
whenever hazards are identified.
To protect our hands we need to perform work in a safe manner. This
can be done by paying attention to the following areas:
Tools Equipment and Work Materials

Guards make sure all guards are fitted and adjusted correctly
before starting work. Never remove machine guards.
Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should be checked to see if
hand protection eg. gloves, need to be worn.

Toolbox Talk - Hand And Finger Protection

Rough materials should where possible, be de-burred, sharp and
jagged edges removed.
Fast moving equipment keep hands well clear and avoid the use of
gloves to reduce the risk of entanglement.
Mark Hot objects clearly to help prevent burns.
Clean up broken glass, nails, hazardous materials before accidents
occur.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), should be worn to protect
against hazards that cant be otherwise controlled.
Gloves there are many different types of gloves available to protect
against a wide range of hazards. It is important that the correct glove
is used at all times and that damage gloves are replaced.
Barrier cream can be used to protect the skin against certain
chemicals, oils and solvents. The suitability of cream should be
checked before use.
Suspended loads, hand and fingers (or any other body parts) should
not be placed under suspended loads. This will help prevent crush
type injuries being sustained in the event of something going wrong.
Striking objects injuries to our hands are likely to occur if they are
used to strike or hit solid objects. This is especially true when the
palm of the hand is used. Striking hard objects with the palm of the
hand may result in permanent nerve damage.
Situations that are dangerous or have the potential to cause harm
should be reported to your supervisor for action.
To protect our hands it is also important to report faults or damaged
equipment, especially when machine guarding is concerned.