See the best ways to protect your hands while on the job, as hand injuries are very prevalent in the construction industry.
Hand injuries are a common occurrence in the construction industry. According to data from the CDC, hand injuries are responsible for more than 1 million visits to an emergency room each year by workers in the United States. Hand injuries can be costly both in time lost from work and medical costs. Additionally, hand injuries can also be debilitating, leaving those injured with only limited use—or even zero use—of their injured hand. Protecting your hands from work injuries is of the utmost importance.
Tips on Protecting Your Hands from Work Injuries
There are a number of different ways to keep from injuring your hands on a construction worksite, depending upon what line of construction work you are in.
- Wear Proper Gloves. Machinists, mechanics, carpenters, iron workers, welders, electricians, and more can all benefit from wearing gloves. Gloves protect your hands from being pinched, from picking up splinters from wood, from being cut by sharp metal, from being burned or chemically damaged, and more. With the variety and sophistication of gloves made specifically as PPE, there’s no reason not to wear them.
- Respect Power Tool and Machine Guards. Guards on power tools and machines are there for a reason, and removing or dismantling them can result in serious injury. Protect your hands and the rest of you by respecting the guards on power tools and machines. Don’t try to remove them or bypass them in any way, and always make sure the guards are present and functional before using a tool or machine.
- Pay Attention. While you may have performed a certain job or used a certain tool a hundred times without incident, that doesn’t mean you are safe from danger. Becoming complacent and not paying attention when running a saw, using a torch, or performing any number of jobs on a construction site is how you miss details that lead to injury.
- Pay Attention to Training and Seasoned Workers. Training is meant to protect you from injury, just like the advice of those workers with more job experience! Listen and follow the advice.
At Tucker Paving, safety is always our leading priority! We offer over 25 years of experience in the asphalt and concrete paving industry. We utilize our expertise for residential, commercial, and municipal clients. Contact us today by calling 863-299-2262, or fill out our contact form online, to let us know about your next concrete or asphalt paving project!