Gloves Go Hand in Hand with Safety

Can you imagine what it would be like to lose the use of one or both of your hands because of an injury? Our hands and wrists have 27 muscles and 27 bones that allow us the flexibility and strength to be able to perform tasks. Even a minor hand or finger injury will remind us how important it is to have the full use of our hands.

Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that 17% of all days away from work (DAW) injuries are hand related. In 2008, there were 137,000 hand injuries that resulted in days away from work. Around 63% of those hand injuries were lacerations. Wearing gloves reduces the relative risk of injury by 60%.

Wearing the proper gloves for the job can help to prevent the following injuries:

• Cuts and scrapes
• Puncture wounds
• Chemical burns
• Extreme heat or c-c-c–cold (Ohio winter anybody?)
• Hazardous substances
• Biological agents
• Electrical shocks and burns

Even such innocent activities such as taking measurements with a tape measure have potential risks involved. An employee recently cut their finger from a retracting tape measure blade. Although the cut was not serious, it could have been prevented if a glove policy had been in place and followed.

Several SSOE client companies have already instituted a glove policy for work in their plants. SSOE will continue to be a “leader by example” in the field of safety by implementing a similar glove policy that will be compatible with our client’s requirements and provide flexibility and safety for our personnel who travel and work out of the office.

A good and safe plan will ALWAYS include a safety evaluation of the activity, a determination of the proper PPE for that activity, and follow through with a safe plan of action and PPE use.