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Copyright © 2014 by PEC Safety Management, Inc.

Hand Safety

PPT-SM-HNDSFTY 2014

Hand Safety • One-third of all oil and gas industry

accidents are hand injuries • Companies should use engineering and

work practice controls to protect workers from potential hand injuries

• PPE should be used to provide additional protection

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PPT-SM-HNDSFTY 2014

Hand Hazards Potential hazards include • Skin absorption • Severe cuts, lacerations, or abrasions • Fractures and amputations • Punctures • Chemical or thermal burns • Electrical dangers • Harmful temperature extremes

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Preventative Actions Use the following preventative actions to protect your hands • JSA and similar hazard identification measures • Work glove selection and care • Proper hand placement • Tool and equipment safety • Chemical and electrical safety • Stretching • Rigging safety, including hands-free methods • Maintaining focus and staying alert

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Personal Protective Equipment Proper hand PPE includes • Gloves • Finger guards • Arm coverings • Elbow length gloves

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Gloves • Gloves can protect against exposure to a variety of

hand hazards • There are many types of gloves • The nature of the hazard and operation involved will

affect glove selection • Workers must use gloves specifically designed for

the hazards and tasks found in their workplace • Wearing the wrong type of glove for a job can

result in serious injury

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Gloves Some factors that may influence glove selection include • Type of chemicals handled • Nature of contact

– Total immersion, splash, etc. • Duration of contact • Area requiring protection

– Hand only, forearm, arm

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PPT-SM-HNDSFTY 2014

Gloves Some factors that may influence glove selection include • Grip requirements

– Dry, wet, oily

• Thermal protection • Size and comfort • Abrasion or resistance requirements

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Gloves • Rubber gloves include gloves made out of rubber,

neoprene, vinyl, or latex • Rubber gloves

– Must be worn when working with chemicals – Must be worn when providing first aid – Must be kept clean and free of holes – Should be designed for use with chemicals – Must not be used for protection against electricity

o Certain chemically protective gloves are highly conductive – May not be compatible for certain chemicals

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Gloves Leather gloves are • Designed to protect against these specific hazards

– Sharp edges – Abrasive materials – Hot work – Cold work

• Useful when working with wire rope

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Gloves • Cloth gloves

– Used to protect hands against light abrasion and solid particulate material

– Must fit well to help avoid accidents – Should not be worn when using rotating machinery

• High visibility gloves – Come in highly visible colors – Make the worker more aware of their hand placement

• Specialty gloves – Special flameproof gloves or gauntlets – Used in welding and cutting operations

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Gloves • Insulated rubber gloves are used for electrical

work • Cut resistant gloves

– Usually made from Kevlar and metal mesh – Designed for workers who routinely perform

cutting tasks with knives or other devices

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Gloves Proper glove use • Gloves should always be worn on the correct hand • Select appropriately sized gloves

– Loose gloves can cause accidents – Tight gloves can cause discomfort

• Put on and remove gloves carefully – Roughly pulling off gloves can damage the material

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Glove Maintenance and Inspection • Keep gloves in a clean, dry place to protect against

rot • Dispose of gloves when they are too worn or no

longer adequately protect hands • Do not patch gloves with tape or any other material • Check gloves for

– Holes – Excessive wear – Excessive buildup of dirt or other materials

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Preventing Hand Injuries • The hands are the most frequently injured part of the body • Use your gloves to protect your hands • Some causes of hand injury include

– Wrong PPE – Faulty equipment – Broken tools or guards – Other engineering problems

• The most common cause of hand injuries is human error due to boredom, inattentiveness, or distractions

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Preventing Hand Injuries To avoid hand injuries, observe the following • Use the right glove for the job • Do not use hands as tools — get the correct tool for the job • Position your body, hands, and fingers correctly • Secure your work • Use lockout/tagout whenever appropriate • Use a push stick when using table- and jigsaws • Be aware of pinch points and other hand hazards

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Preventing Hand Injuries • Be aware of moving and rotating parts that

can trap your hands or fingers • Do not wear gloves when working with

gears or machinery that could catch and pull your fingers or hand into the machinery

• Remove jewelry and tuck in or roll up lose clothing

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Preventing Hand Injuries • Be aware of areas with built-in heaters or

machinery parts that build up heat that can cause serious burns

• Be aware of other hand hazards such as crushed fingers or hands in door jams or when pulling a load through a doorway or tight area

• Maintain control of a lifted load; losing control can cause loads to shift or drop

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First Aid for Fingers, Hands, and Arms

There are two types of arm, hand, and finger injuries • Traumatic

– Cuts, punctures, broken bones, and amputations

• Contact – Skin diseases and temperature or chemical burns

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First Aid for Fingers, Hands, and Arms

For traumatic injuries • Put direct pressure on any bleeding wound • Raise the arm above your head to slow bleeding • Wash and bandage all minor cuts, scrapes, and punctures to

prevent infection • If necessary, seek professional medical care

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First Aid for Fingers, Hands, and Arms

Traumatic injury worst case scenario — amputation • Notify emergency medical care professionals • Keep the worker calm and quiet until help arrives • Apply direct pressure to the injury and keep it elevated • Wrap severed limb in a clean cloth and place over ice • Send severed parts to the hospital with the worker

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First Aid for Fingers, Hands, and Arms

For contact injuries • Run clean, cool water over the affected area for 15 minutes • Do not use

– Solvents – Industrial detergents – Other unapproved chemicals

• Don’t touch your face – Rubbing your face to remove sweat or dust can inadvertently place

chemicals or particles in the eye causing severe eye injuries

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