Health and Safety Resources Caution to Users Many of the resources - PDF document

Health and Safety Resources Caution to Users Many of the resources in this archive were originally prepared by WSN’s predecessor organizations for use by industry clients. While much of the information and many of the forms included with them are still valuable, users should recognize that examples, contact information and data such as legislative references may be out of date. The resources are offered as free tools for companies to use in an effort to continuously improve their health and safety systems. But users of these resources also need to ensure that they are aware of the most recent legislation, equipment and processes, as well as current practices.

slide #1 – Hand Injuries

Topics • Hand injury statistics • Workplace hazards • Types of injuries incurred slide #2 • Repetitive Strain Injuries (R.S.I.) • Preventive actions – Hand Injuries

Hands have high slide #3 risk of injury – Hand Injuries

Most Common Types of Hand Injuries Struck by object 16% Struck by object during handling Struck by 19% falling object 16% slide Caught in, under #4 Struck against or between stationary object 8% 9% Overexertion Temp 6% Fall extremes Other onto, 3% Rubbed, 15% against abraded object 3% 5% – Hand Injuries All Firms 1993 to 2002 YTD

Traumatic Injuries • Traumatic injuries can occur as the result of the use of tools or machinery. slide • To reduce injuries, #5 use safety precautions and keep your hands, jewelry and clothing away from any moving parts. – Hand Injuries

Contact Injuries • Contact injuries can occur from contact with substances that burn or injure tissue. • Safety precautions include reading product slide #6 labels and Material Safety Data Sheets and using protective coverings on your hands. Develop and follow job procedures and use suitable handling equipment. – Hand Injuries

Repetitive Strain Injuries Injury Description Symptoms Treatment Inflammation of muscle / tendon Pain, swelling in wrist, Rest, splints, Tendinitis junctions and adjacent muscles, hands, fingers or physiotherapy, caused by repetitive motion, forearm drugs or surgery. infection or sudden injury. Swelling of a tendon and its Pain, stiffness and Rest, drugs, splints, Tenosynovitis protective sheath, similar to swelling in wrist, elbow, physiotherapy or tendonitis but is more painful. etc. surgery. slide #7 Tendons and sheaths swell due Numbness in fingers Carpal to repetitive motion and put (often at night), tingling Rest, drugs, splints, pressure on the median nerve. or burning sensation, Tunnel physiotherapy or The median nerve runs through a pain, weakened grip, Syndrome surgery. passage in the wrist (carpal dry or shiny palm or tunnel) up to the hand. clumsiness. Avoid vibrating Numbness, pale skin, equipment; keep White Finger sensitive to cold, Damaged blood circulation and hands warm if tingling sensation, loss nerve function in the hands and / exposed to cold or of muscle control, fingers. White Hand vibration. reduced grip strength. – Hand Injuries

Repetitive Strain Injury Early Symptoms • stiffness or pain in the wrist, hand or fingers • numbness in the hand • swelling in the wrist slide • tingling or burning #8 sensation in the wrist, hand or fingers • clumsiness or reduced manual dexterity and sensitivity • reduced grip strength – Hand Injuries

More about White Finger Hand injury, CTS, skeletal deformities, and a number of diseases can cause the same symptoms. Precautions: Causes: • Avoidance of hand-arm • Vibration vibration • Exposure to cold • Protect hands from damage slide and temperature extremes #9 Effects: • Consult a physician if hands are tingling, numb or fingers • Impaired blood circulation turn white • Impaired nerve function • Avoid nicotine (it may cause poor blood circulation) • Wear protective clothing in cold weather – Hand Injuries

Hand Protection slide #10 – Hand Injuries

Common Workplace Hazards There are four types of workplace hazards: slide #11 Mechanical Hazards Personal Hazards Contact Hazards Housekeeping Hazards – Hand Injuries

Additional Resources • www.scif.com/news-info • www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases • www.whitefinger.co.uk • www.indianahandcenter.com/handsafe.html slide #12 • www.rmis.com • www.risksm.co.uk/services.htmm • www.osha.gov/SLTC/handpowertools/index.html • www.ffvamic.com/LossControl/32_hand_safety.shtml – Hand Injuries