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Hand Protection for Construction Workers In construction, exposed hands are susceptible to physical, chemical and other hazards. According to the Construction Safety Association of Ontario, hand protection is often the only practical means of preventing injury from the following:• Physical hazards, sharp or jagged edges on materials and tools, heat, vibration; • Corrosive or toxic chemicals; • Ultraviolet radiation. For physical hazards such as sharp edges, splinters, and heat, leather gloves are preferred. Cotton or other materials do not stand up well and are recommended only for light-duty jobs. Vibration transferred from tools and equipment can affect hands and arms. One result may be hand/arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). This disease causes the following changes in fingers and hands: • Circulation problems such as whitening or bluish discoloration, especially after exposure to cold; • Sensory problems such as numbness and tingling; • Musculoskeletal problems such as difficulty with fine motor movements. Workers who use vibrating tools such as jackhammers, grinders, riveters, and compactors on a daily basis may develop HAVS. Preventing this disease requires cooperation between employers and workers. Employers can do the following to prevent injury: • Provide power tools with built-in vibration-reducing components; • Review exposure times and allow rest breaks away from vibrating tools; • Ensure proper tool maintenance (worn grinding wheels or tool bearings can lead to higher vibration levels); • Train exposed workers in prevention techniques; • Provide anti-vibration gloves. Workers should consider the following: • Wear appropriate clothing in cooler weather to maintain core body temperature; • Wear gloves whenever possible; • Wear anti-vibration gloves when using power tools and equipment; • Avoid smoking (smoking contributes to circulatory problems); • Report any poorly functioning tools immediately. For protection against chemical hazards, the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for the product being used should identify whether gloves are needed and what they should be made of; MSDSs must be available on site for all controlled products being used. Construction workers may find themselves exposed to pinch point hazards via the equipment they use and may have to maintain. The Ohio State University Extension offers the following information on what types of gloves to wear, and how to protect fingers and hands from pinch points: • Identify the pinch points on mechanically moved loads, lowered loads and metal drums. Pinch points are created when two objects move together, with at least one of them moving in a circle. • Know when to wear gloves. Gloves should be worn when exposed to hazards that cause cuts, scrapes and chemical burns or injuries. Do not wear gloves around reciprocating or rotating machine parts. • Allow rotating parts to come to a stop before working on them. • Use a tapered punch or other appropriate tool to align the holes in parts. • Rings should not be worn when operating or repairing machinery. • Remove fuses with fuse removers, not fingers. • Do not test the temperatures of gases, liquids, or solids with hands. Reflex damage can occur immediately. • Keep grinder tool rests adjusted to 1/8 inch gap or less. • Handle sharp or pointed tools (hatchets, chisels, punches, awls, knives, pitch forks and machine blades) carefully. • Perform maintenance only when tools or machinery are not in operation. • If guards are removed to perform maintenance, replace them immediately after servicing. Review the Following Points • Avoid using fingers to retrieve objects near saw blades, knife blades, parts moving together, rotating parts and reciprocating parts. • Use guards on moving machinery parts. • Do not use hands or fingers to test temperatures. • Handle sharp or pointed tools carefully. • Watch for pinch points. • The power transmission, moving parts, and the point of operation on all machinery or tools should be guarded. FSM
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