Captain Clyde's Safety Pin #4: Wear Gloves!

Today's Safety Sunday tip is: WEAR GLOVES

At one time or another, everyone has had a minor injury to a finger, hand, or wrist that caused pain or swelling. Most of the time, our body movements do not cause problems, but it's not surprising that symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury. According to the CDC, injuries to the hands, fingers, and wrist account for approximately 10 percent of ALL U.S. emergency room visits.

Finger, hand, or wrist injuries most commonly occur during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks such as lashing down materials or cargo or projects around the home. They can be further compounded when you are using machineries such as lawnmowers, snowblowers, or banding tools. These injuries can also occur after accidental falls, fistfights, or even after someone punches a wall… did I say just that? 😊

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports more than 70 percent of workers experiencing hand injuries were not wearing any gloves at the time. The remaining 30 percent of injured workers were not wearing the right type of gloves, such as high impact gloves that keep your hands and fingers from being pinched or crushed while loading a pallet.

There are steps we can take to help prevent an injury to our hands, fingers, and wrist:

Choose the right gloves for the task

About 60 percent of hand injuries in the workplace can be prevented by using the appropriate gloves. The same rule can be applied at home too:

• Use leather gloves, cut-resistant impact gloves, or chemical-resistant gloves, depending on the task
• Remove bracelets and jewelry
• Don't use gloves that can get caught in machinery
• Make sure the gloves are your size

Knife know-how

• Keep knives sharp
• A dull blade can slip while cutting an object and cut you instead
• A sharp knife is easier to control
• People tend to be more careful when using a sharp knife
• When chopping, curl your fingers under and use your flat knuckles as a knife guide

Slow down and wise-up

• Reduce the speed of repetitive movements in sports and work activities, like hammering.
• Approach dangerous tasks with caution, not speed
• Know and follow all safety measures for the work activity or sport you may be playing
• Use protective gear no matter what activity you are doing, whether its work, sports, or otherwise
• Pay attention and don't be careless

Get the mechanics right

• Do exercises to strengthen hand muscles and promote flexibility of the wrists and fingers
• Practice tendon stretches
• Utilize finger strengthening for better grip
• Grip with your whole hand to prevent stressing the wrist
• Know how to use tools, especially the safety features, safely

There are many ways we use our hands, fingers, and wrists every day of our lives. Avoid putting them in a "pinch point" such as a 40-foot sea-going container door or a car door while at work or at home as the case may be.

I know that I enjoy greeting people when I meet them with an outstretched hand, and that would be not easy to do if I was sporting a hand or wrist injury. Be anchored to safety, WEAR GLOVES.