Category Archives: Hand Protection

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CUT PROTECTION

Persons who work in environments that require them to handle sharp objects want to wear the safest, cut-resistant gloves that are available for their particular needs.  Cut resistance defines the material that the gloves are constructed from.  One method of testing the fabric is using force to cut through the material using a moving blade.  In the U.S., the ASTM F1790 is the most common test for cut resistance, which along with ANSI/ISEA glove selecting criteria rates them on a scale from 0 to 5.

Other factors that are also important to consider are the workplace conditions: humidity, temperature and lubricants that are involved.   Most cut-resistant gloves are made from stainless steel wrapped with softer nylon yarn for strength and comfort.  These types of gloves are suitable of food processing, canning, glass handling, and metal fabricating applications.
Certain materials that are in the design of cut-resistant gloves are five times stronger than steel.  Although they are strong and cut-resistant, they are not puncture-proof.  They are not intended for use near powered blades or other rotating equipment.

Employers know the risk factors in their workplace.  Things they should look for when selecting cut-resistant gloves for their employees:

  • Tear strength
  • Abrasion resistance
  • Durability – select gloves that will be as strong at the end of the shift as at the beginning.
  • Comfort – gloves that are going to stay on all day long should be comfortable.
  • Fit – gloves that are loose will only make things clumsy for the employee.
  • Grip –very important that the glove allows a good grip.

Certain types of industrial jobs require wearing cut-resistant sleeves, as well.  The main ingredient to reducing injuries is to train employees well in the type of risks they will encounter on a daily basis.  As with any well-trained workers, they learn to never take their safety for granted: to be constantly aware of accidents that may be waiting to happen.

Back Safety, Ergonomics, Eye Protection, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

LOOKING OUT FOR #1!

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There aren’t many jobs in this world that don’t have a certain amount of risks involved.  Sure, a steelworker has a more dangerous job than a secretary sitting behind a desk!  But there are many hazards in even an office.  Tripping over wires, file cabinet drawers being left out, are just a few of the dangers lurking in an office.  It’s up to the individual to be safe.

Those who must wear Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, have the responsibility of wearing it in the correct way, and not removing it while working.  Companies train employees in the proper use of PPE in relation to their job duties.  Employees should pay attention to the training they are given, and to the risks they encounter on an every-day basis.

Injuries occur at work, but many times they can be avoided.  Watching out for both yourself and the other guy will pay off.  Know your job hazards.  If you pay attention to your job, use common sense, avoid distractions, and follow company policies, hopefully you will go through your entire work experience without a scratch.

PPE is there for a reason:
There are many types of Personal Protective Equipment for hundreds of uses, but remember, it works best when used properly.  Your company can buy it for you, but it’s up to you to wear it and take care of it.  Be sure it fits comfortably.  If something becomes worn, report it to your supervisor, so it can be replaced.  Certain jobs at home require types of PPE, whether to protect your eyes with safety glasses or goggles while mowing the lawn, working in the shop, or wearing gloves when gardening.  Taking the time to put on a pair of gloves, glasses, or whatever is needed is the best way to be safe.  Whether your tasks are at home or work, play it safe!  Know your equipment and protect yourself at all times.

Hand Protection

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HAND PROTECTION

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If your need for gloves is for gardening or at-home jobs, there are specific types of gloves that fit the bill.  When your employment requires that you wear Personal Protective Equipment, including gloves, employers must conduct extensive hazard assessments to ensure that potential injury to hands of workers is avoided.  The employer should determine which type of protection is needed for the utmost safety, by selecting the proper glove, finger guards, or elbow-length glove that is appropriate for the task at hand.  There are numerous selections of work gloves, even gloves with a light on them for working under the hood of a car!  Whether you are an employer, employee, or performing jobs at home, it’s important to make the right choices.

Factors that should influence your decision in choosing gloves:

  • Types of chemicals you are exposed to.  Also the nature of contact (splash, total immersion.)
  • Duration of contact.  Area of body that requires protection.
  • Thermal Protection.
  • Abrasion/Resistance Required.
  • Mechanical hazards that you are around, such as rough, sharp objects, at home or work.
  • Proper fit to avoid dropping products in assembly.
  • Furnish good grip for wet/dry, hot/cold working conditions.
  • Styled for tasks that require delicate, intricate handling.
  • Gender specific.

Gloves generally fall into four groups:

It is important that employers are aware of any employees who are allergic to materials of gloves, such as latex, or those with powder.  Persons who are sensitized should have emergency identification specifying their allergy and carry a prescription for epinephrine from their allergist.  Workers must be prepared to recognize and treat a person who might go into anaphylactic shock.

Gloves serve a very important purpose for almost all walks of life: the medical field, military, law enforcement, and industrial environments.  They are necessary for certain jobs at home and many different sports.  Best of all, they help us stay warm!

Source: OSHA

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

FOR NASCAR FANS IN 2010

It’s just about time to rev up your engines!  NASCAR Series is about to kick off another season.  It’s fun to watch the races, but are you aware of how much planning for the safety of the drivers and crews has been put into this sport?  In the earlier days of racing, there was not as much emphasis put on safety, but following some high speed crashes that resulted in death, the industry has focused on everything from the construction of the cars to the gear the drivers and pit crews wear to ensure they are protected.

Here are some interesting facts regarding NASCAR safety of cars and drivers:

  • Roll cages – cages are built with steel tubing.  The middle section of the roll cage protects the driver because of its strong design.  The front clip on the cage will push the engine out of the bottom of the car in the event of a crash, rather than into the drivers’ compartment.
  • Seats – drivers are protected by seats that surround their rib cage and in some types, their shoulders as well.  Harnesses that restrain drivers are much stronger than seat belts in ordinary cars.
  • Wind nets – these keep drivers’ arms from flailing in case of being flipped, as well as keeping debris out of the drivers’ way.
  • Roof flaps – prevent cars from becoming airborne.  You’ll see these flaps if the cars are spinning; they slow down their speed and help the driver regain control of the car.
  • Fuel cells – 22-gallon tanks have built-in safety features to control the threat of explosion.  There is foam inside, which reduces slosh of fuel, and the amount of air in the cell.  In case of an ignition, the foam absorbs the explosion.
  • Restrictor plates – first installed for safety reasons, following a 1988 crash by driver Bobby Allison into a retaining fence racing at a speed of 210 mph, these plates are placed between the carburetor and intake manifold to slow the cars’ speed.  Some drivers now feel that the restrictor plates are the reason for many multi-car crashes.

Restrictor plates are used at two high-banked superspeedways, Talledega and Daytona.

  • Barriers – millions of dollars have been spent to construct barriers with materials that absorb crashes better than concrete.
  • HANS Device – a combination head and neck restraint that NASCAR requires drivers to wear.
  • Protective gear – drivers wear fire retardant suits made of Proban or Nomex material, which is also in the socks, gloves and shoes, as well as lining of their helmet.  Some drivers prefer to wear full-face helmets, while others say a full-face helmet restricts their peripheral vision and choose open-face with goggles.
  • Pit road safety – Pit members must wear helmets, firesuits, fire-retardant gloves, and it is recommended that tire changers wear safety glasses.  Also, race cars must enter the pit road at a safe speed, which is registered on their tachometer.

If you are lucky enough to make a NASCAR race, you may want to take along some sunscreen, noise blocking earplugs, and your own safety sunglasses!  Drive friendly!  Let’s hope for a super-safe 2010 racing season!

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

IT’S IN YOUR HANDS!

From the very beginning of the H1N1 pandemic, experts have given specific ways to avoid becoming sick with this virus.  Of course, hopes are always placed that the vaccine will be the principal way to stay well.  Although it is an important piece of the prevention puzzle, personal accountability is a critical part of it, as well.

As we know, hand hygiene is the best way to safeguard against illness.  Responsible persons in schools, homes, and industrial sectors understand the importance of preventing the spread of disease.  Being conscious of the surfaces and the contaminants on them is one of the best things we can do. (Please see our article, Germ City, U.S.A.).  Remember to wash you hands often, or use hand sanitizer.  It’s hard to do, but we should never touch our nose, eyes, or mouth with our hands.  It is best to use a clean tissue.

Thousands of patients die in hospitals annually from nosocomial infections, which are acquired while being treated in the hospital.  These infections can be preventable when closer attention to hand hygiene and infection control guidelines are met by hospitals.  Hospitals and nursing homes should have responsible hand washing etiquette and good cross contamination awareness programs.  Patients should never hesitate to ask their nurse or caregiver to wash their hands, if they feel it is necessary.

Foodborne illness is another way that we can become ill because of lack of hand cleanliness. (Have you ever watched someone prepare food, i.e., pizza, without gloves, and then handle money?) According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 76 million persons contact foodborne illness yearly.  Eighty percent of the illnesses come from commercial or institutionally prepared foods; the other 20% from foods prepared in the home.  Hands should be washed very frequently while preparing food.  Two magnets for bacteria in the kitchen are the dishrag or sponge, and cutting boards.

Keeping yourself healthy during this winter is in your hands.  From hand hygiene to getting the vaccine, you must also stay out of crowds when at all possible, pay attention to things you are touching/sharing, eat healthy, and get enough exercise.

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Protective Clothing, Weather Protection

HOW TO STAY TOASTY IN FROSTY WEATHER

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As winter is creeping up on us, and probably already has in some sections of the country, it’s important that we know all the tricks of staying warm.  For those who work in the outdoors, it is very important to be protected from the elements.  Employers are responsible to see that working conditions do not put their employees’ health at risk, so they should inform workers on what to expect and how to protect themselves.

In earlier articles, Cold Stress Equation Parts I and II, we have gone into detail about this very subject; Part II especially describes how to recognize and prevent frostbite and hypothermia, and what to do to if a person experiences either of these.  As stated earlier, it is important that layering the right types of clothing with a waterproof top layer is a good plan.

Eating small, hot, and even spicy foods give the nervous system a warmth signal that encourages blood flow to the extremities.  Drinks with caffeine constrict blood vessels, making the extremities colder.  Alcohol is dehydrating and suppresses shivering, the involuntary muscle contractions that help the body warm itself.  Tobacco also constricts blood vessels and cools the body by reducing circulation.  (It goes without saying that alcohol shouldn’t be consumed while working, anyway, but if you are outdoors for hunting or sports,  keep this in mind – it won’t warm you up!)

There are products made especially to help keep you warm.  Keep these in mind when looking for just the right thing:

  • Slush boots, rainwear
  • Winter liners
  • Gloves
  • Earmuffs
  • Coveralls

Outdoor exposure should be limited if possible, but for those who face working outdoors on a daily basis, stretching the muscles before work helps warm up the muscles and prevent muscle pulls.  Remember to drink lots of water, as well.  A change of dry clothes can come in handy when having to endure windy, humid days.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH HOSPITAL ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS?

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The World Health Organization reports that at any given time, approximately 1.4 million people worldwide are suffering from infections they received at a healthcare facility.  I personally know of one of those persons.  Following his second hip surgery, a family member got an infection, which required several days in the hospital, surgery to take care of the infection, and six weeks of home health care providers who administered large doses of penicillin through a portable IV.  The process was successful; however, it caused a lot of pain and discomfort, as well as mental anxiety, as to whether the treatment would work, or if another surgery would be needed.

Three types of infections that can be received in hospitals or healthcare settings are:

1.    Ventilator Associated Pneumonia.  VAP has the highest morbidity and mortality of Hospital Associated Infections.  This type of infection will increase patient time in the ICU by 4-6 days.  Estimated costs for each incident ranges from $20,000 to $40,000.

2.    Surgical Site Infections.  Costs from these types of infection from invasive procedures amounted to $10 billion in the United States alone annually.

3.    Cross Contamination.  Patients and healthcare workers are better protected from cross contamination by consistent hand hygiene.  Clean hands are the most important factor in preventing the spread of dangerous germs in healthcare settings.  Hand contamination is reduced by 70-80% when wearing gloves.  The importance of personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, surgical gowns, and other medical clothing cannot be overstated.

Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, dentist offices, and other healthcare industries work hard to provide excellent infection control.  However, due to growing public anxiety, more pressure is being put on state and local legislators in regard to hospitals’ responsibility of controlling, combating, and reporting hospital associated infections.  There are numerous types of infections that can occur, but patients deserve to have the peace of mind that their return home will be a healthy one.

Source: haiwatch.com

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Protective Clothing

DO YOU WORK WITH CHEMICALS?

More than 32 million workers are potentially exposed to one or more chemical hazards; there are over 650,000 existing chemical hazards in more than 3 million workplaces, and new ones being developed annually.  OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires chemical manufacturers to evaluate hazards and furnish information through labels and more detailed Material Safety Data Sheets, which are to be included with shipments of their products.  Failure to do so is a serious violation of the standard.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are also available at the workplace, and should be readily accessible to each work shift, as they are designed to instruct workers and emergency personnel on procedures for handling/working with certain substances in a safe way.  This system catalogues information on chemicals, chemical compounds and chemical mixtures that contain potential hazardous materials.    Labels, MSDS, and proper training are to be utilized to identify and prevent occupational injuries or health problems of workers.  Because more comprehensive information is contained in the MSDS, it is important that each employee understands how to use them.  Continuous training is also important, as there will be new employees, different chemicals, or different methods in use.  MSDS binders should be kept up-to-date.

Employers and workers should determine the correct PPE to be furnished, such as foot protection, medical protective clothing, etc., depending on the type of work environment.  Employees have the right to know what they are going to be exposed to, and the best way to avoid health or safety risks that apply.

At home, one should read labels on cleaning products or sprays, as they contain harmful chemicals, as well.  Carcinogens, volatile organic compounds and phosphates are three types of such chemicals.  They are contained in items such as oven cleaners, floor wax, laundry detergent, and air fresheners.  Each type of chemical is related to different health risks and environmental damage.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

DANGEROUS JOB-COAL MINING

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Coal mining is considered one of America’s top ten most dangerous jobs.  There are more than 50 countries that produce coal, China leading the list.  Suffocation, gas poisoning, roof collapses, and gas explosions are just a few of the dangers that coal miners face, in addition to health risks, such as “black lung” disease.  Because China employs thousands more coal miners, their fatality rate is much greater than those in the U.S.

Coal produces more than one-half of the electricity for our nation.  In eastern states such as Kentucky, families of miners have been mining coal for generations.  Coal is the means of creating electricity, methanol, coke for steel manufacture, and fuel in power generators, referred to as steaming or thermal coal.  To make cement, extracts of iron from iron ore are used.

Through technological advancements, coal mining today is more productive than ever.  Computers furnish most of the safety monitoring systems, assisting the industry in keeping their workers safer.  PPE, such as hardhat lights, are standard equipment for miners.

The Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration has many suggestions to ensure the safety of mines, such as gas monitoring, gas drainage, electrical equipment, better ventilation, reducing the risks of rock falls, and measuring unhealthy air quality.  One cause of fatal injuries is collapsing rock pillars, which support rock between the mine and surface.  When the coal is extracted from these pillars once the coal has been mined, the pillars sometimes fall, trapping miners inside.

Cold weather is another hazard, as methane builds along with the unnaturally low barometric pressure.  The MSHA notes that every mine must have its individual ventilation plan to keep methane at safe levels.  Proper air pressure differential is essential in order to carry the level of gas away from working areas.  There should be regularly scheduled hazard inspections of air shafts, air movements and escape routes.

As coal dust can cause explosions, constant maintenance must be done on equipment that could be a source of sparks.  No smoking or smoking materials are allowed, as common sense would dictate.

When mining accidents are announced on the news, we realize how hard and risky their daily jobs are.  Their families carry on with their lives, but worry that an accident could happen any time.   When something goes wrong, we observe the dedication on the faces of the rescue workers to get to their comrades and bring them out safely.  Coal miners work in very restricted areas; one man compared it to working underneath your kitchen table for several hours.  I think I prefer sitting behind my desk!  But I do appreciate the history behind this industry, and those persons who help keep America moving forward.

Back Safety, Ergonomics, Eye Protection, Fall Safety, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING WHAT WENT WRONG

One of the worst things that can happen to any business is for an employee to be injured on the job.  (It goes without saying, that it’s also a very unfortunate event for the employee.) Workers have the right to know exactly what is expected of them in their daily job performance.  They should be informed of any hazards associated with their duties and properly trained before beginning their job, and given the proper personal protective equipment that is required to ensure their safety.

Efficient businesses have policies and procedures, which should include a proper accident investigation and reporting plan.  Prevention, of course, is the key to avoiding accidents, but when they happen, someone must be assigned to be responsible in determining how and why the injury occurred.   Insufficient reporting of work-related accidents will lead to higher costs for employers.  It also must be reported to company management and workers comp providers in an accurate and timely manner.

Lost time accidents are costly to employers.  According to Cal/OSHA, for every dollar a company spends on direct costs of a workers’ injury, more dollars are spent to cover the hidden and indirect costs, such as:

  • Productive time lost by the injured employee;
  • Productive time lost by employees attending the accident victim;
  • Time to hire/retrain employee while victim is off work;
  • Clean up and start up of operations that were interrupted;
  • Paying employee all or part of wages, in addition to compensation;
  • Cost to repair damaged equipment;
  • Higher workers compensation rates;
  • Cost of paperwork involved in reporting accident.

Employers that do not furnish safe and healthful work practices for their workers are gambling with the future of their very own business.  Hazard assessments, risk management, and safety programs are essential for ensuring successful business practices for everyone involved.

Another angle to consider, as well, is that a thorough accident investigation will prove that the injury did occur on the job, and not elsewhere.  History shows that there are people in this world that will take advantage of their employer and sue them for an on-the-job injury that happened somewhere else.