OSHA has made it clear that hand and finger safety is an important topic for employers to address, as hand injuries are prevalent in the workplace and very much preventable. Without your hands it would be extremely difficult to do routine simple tasks such as opening doors, using a fork or tying your shoes. Your hands make you a skilled, valuable worker. 

PRACTICE EXERCISE:  Tuck your thumbs into the palms of your hands.  Now tie your shoes.

To avoid hand injuries, here are a few lines of defense:

KNIVES

· Use safety knives whenever possible
· Keep knife blades sharp
· Cut away from your body
· Do not use knife blades as screwdrivers
· Avoid working on the same object when a co-worker is using a knife

HAND SAWS

· Use moderate pressure on hack saws to prevent blade failure
· Spray saw blades lightly with lubricant prior to use
· Keep blades sharp

PORTABLE POWER TOOLS

· Disconnect power tools when not in use and before changing bits, blades, and other accessories
· If a power tool binds STOP! and reassess the job
· Wear anti-vibration gloves when using power tools that vibrate excessively
· Never remove guards
· Ground power tools unless double insulated
· Don’t wear gloves if they can get caught on rotating parts
· Secure work in a vise or a bench—don’t hold it in your hand

GLOVE CARE

· Wearing the proper gloves has been proven to reduce the relative risk of injury by 60%. This is still the most effective way of reducing most hand injuries.
· Inspect gloves before use for tears, excessive wear, and punctures
· Store gloves in a clean, dry location
· Discard leather and cloth gloves if they become saturated with oil or other chemicals
· Inspect gloves before use for tears, excessive wear, and punctures
· Leak test chemical gloves by sealing the wrist and filling the glove with air
· Use a clean plastic tube or low pressure air line – not your mouth

PERSONAL HAZARDS

· Wearing rings at work is considered unsafe.  If the ring is forced off or breaks, it may pull the flesh from the finger or amputate it.

REMEMBER TO PROCTECT YOUR HANDS,
YOU NEED THEM TO PICK UP YOUR PAYCHECK.

Information provided by the National Precast Concrete Association