Need a hand?

From typing reports to operating heavy machinery—we use our hands for every project, every day without a second thought. That is, unless we get an injury. Even a small paper cut can be irritating enough to distract us from our task; an injury such as a burn or broken finger can keep us from our work for weeks at a time.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, hand injuries send more than one million workers to the emergency room each year. Of those workers, 70 percent were not wearing gloves. The remaining 30 percent of injured workers did wear gloves, but the gloves were inadequate, damaged or the wrong type for the job.

Keep your hands-on workflow safe and continuous by using the correct form of personal protective equipment for your job type.

Personal Protective Equipment by Job (according to Weeklysafety.com)

Metal & Machinery:

Proper handling of sharp materials such as glass, sheet metal or sharp tools is not enough to protect workers from injury. As technology advances, metal mesh, Kevlar and other forms of specially coated gloves are available to workers dealing with sharp objects.

Chemicals:

It is important to note that not all chemical resistant gloves are safe to use with all materials!

Work with hazardous chemicals is not confined to the laboratory. Pouring concrete; washing brickwork or masonry; spray coating and staining cement; and handling asbestos-containing materials or lead-based paints all require using gloves specific to the type of chemical involved.

Heat-related materials:

Heavy duty leather or fire retardant material may be enough to protect those working with hot substances, sparks or flames. However, work with potentially energized or live electrical equipment will require gloves that are rated for a specific voltage range.

Medical Response (according to Aurora Hand Surgery)

Every injury requires medical attention. The level of attention, however, varies according to the severity of the wound.

For small cuts, perform basic first aid:

• Remove rings and bracelets that may impede blood flow or compress nerves if swelling occurs later.
• Clean area with warm water and soap.
• Apply antibiotic ointment and a sterile bandage.
• Apply ice and elevate hand to reduce swelling.
• Continue to monitor the injury for signs of infection.

Seek medical assistance in the following situations:

• If there is a sprain, finger dislocation or fracture.
• If there is a deep cut, puncture wound, animal bite, human bite, or a scrape that you cannot get clean or if the cut shows sign of infection.
• If a finger or part of a finger has been cut off. Collect all parts and tissue and place in a plastic bag on ice for transport to the hospital with the person.

Call 911 in the following extreme situations:

• Injury includes amputation.
• Bone is protruding through skin.
• Bleeding cannot be stopped after several minutes of firm pressure.
• Blood spurts from the wound.
• The hand feels numb or cold.

Reporting injuries, even if they do not seem serious at the time, can protect workers’ rights should the injury progress or incur medical costs. If you experience an injury at Sanford Lab, please report it to your supervisor immediately.