The human hand is unparalleled in its versatility, serving as an indispensable tool for pallet, wood container and lumber industry work.
These fields also carry a heightened risk of significant hand and finger injuries compared to others.
Understanding the nature of these risks and how such injuries occur is critical for prevention. Working with tools and heavy machinery in woodworking, for instance, inherently poses certain dangers, accounting for 30,000 table saw injuries in the U.S. annually.
While not all hand injuries require hospitalization, they can significantly impact an employee’s job performance and overall well-being. It also can affect workplace morale and productivity. Implementing proper risk assessment and control measures can help prevent such injuries in the first place.
Key Practices to Avoid Workplace Injury
Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure employee safety. Identifying and assessing potential hand risks is vital when trying to mitigate such injuries. Here are six recommended strategies for conducting thorough hazard assessments and implementing effective controls:
1.) Evaluate each task and work area independently. Hazards can vary significantly across operations and product lines. Each job and environment is unique, requiring a tailored examination to fully understand associated risks. Workstations should be revamped to minimize or remove hazards wherever feasible. For instance, if a guardrail presents a struck-by hazard during material handling or cross-ups, consider relocating or reorienting it. If material hang-ups or jamming necessitate manual handling, involve maintenance teams or manufacturers to address equipment issues. Regularly reassess work areas for new hazards due to operational changes or work practices.
2.) Invest in more reliable equipment, materials, practices and tools. Auto-retracting utility knives can reduce laceration risks, while installing area or point-of-operation guarding will prevent employee contact with equipment or material hazards. Consider replacing a chemical that causes contact dermatitis with a safer option for employees. Offer a range of protective equipment options to suit different needs and preferences, and enforce administrative controls such as job rotations to help prevent repetitive strain injuries.
3.) Provide consistent safety training covering awareness, personal protective equipment inspection and proper equipment usage. Implement hand stretching and strengthening practices for employees handling materials or tools. Address ergonomic discomfort promptly through an early intervention program.
4.) Analyze near misses and incident trends within the organization. While proactive measures are essential, learning from past incidents provides valuable insights into existing hazards and how to prevent them. Identifying recurring patterns, such as puncture wounds at a specific work station, indicates areas that require closer examination of their associated hazards.
5.) Use a hazard identification checklist to prompt consideration of potential injuries that may be overlooked. While common hazards like moving equipment and pinch points are typically recognized, specific risks such as intense vibrations from equipment can pose ergonomic hazards. The checklist should guide the assessment while remaining open to identifying other hazards not listed.
6.) Seek insights from similar operations, consultants or resources for effective solutions. Involve employees in the assessment process, as they often have valuable insights into job-related hazards. Collaborating with experienced staff leads to a more comprehensive evaluation. For instance, in the wood industry, employees may be aware that specific wood dimensions or species are more likely to cause manual handling issues and increase the risk of hand injuries. Encourage employees to report hazards and near misses, backed by hazard identification training. Stay updated on technological advancements and best practices for employee protection.
Safety Today for a Solid Tomorrow
Ensuring the safety of your workforce is crucial in the lumber industry, given the substantial risks in terms of frequency and severity of hand injuries. Fortunately, employers have multiple avenues to mitigate these risks for their workers, including collaborating with their insurer and broker to reduce risk. By understanding the various types and causes of hand injuries and mastering the assessment and implementation of effective controls, organizations can take proactive measures to address these hazards.
Editor’s Note: Paul Quandt, CIC, CFPS, CLCS, is the senior commercial lines insurance executive within HUB International’s Oregon region and northwest leader of their Forest Products Division. For more information on HUB’s services or expertise, email Paul.quandt@hubinternational.com.
