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Posted By Roy Macpherson
I am trying to gather as many ideas as I can to help with a project I have undertaken: to reduce the reported hand injuries suffered by staff at our electricity generation facilities. Has anyone else put themselves through this stress with any success? Any help would be most appreciated!! I suggested removing the groups which have suffered the injuries but this was "unproductive"!!!
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Posted By Bill Fisher
Roy
Can you tell us a bit more? What type of hand injuries - cuts, stabbing wounds, crushing etc? and the circumstances.
Bill
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Posted By Roy Macpherson
Cheers Bill
The injuries here are in the main suffered by maintenance and operations staff and run the whole range from crushing to chemical attack to steam burns-in one case bee stings! The majority of the injuries though are minor abrasions and small cuts, usually suffered in areas which wouldnt normally be considered hazardous. We have examined our hand protection and as far as we can ascertain the range we have available is entirely suitable for the work but our reporting doesnt take PPE into account when details are reported. I have spoken to some of the victims and there does seem to be a trend where protection wasnt being used as it was felt that it wasnt required in the area but is it simply a problem of perception of risk or something deeper-I shudder to think!
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Posted By Angela
Reduction strategy.
I work for a company in the nuclear industry and we also had a higher rate of hand injuries on maintenance. Spookily enough, we also had the bee sting, maybe you are under cover from our place ;-) We decided at the time by the way that the bee sting was not a work related injury. Starting with the wonderful principle that PPE is the last resort. Let's look at what else you can do. Here are a few ideas that I have seen implemented following near miss and accident reports.
1. Review all the hand tools that are in use.
Are you using closed spanners and not open spanners to reduce the risk of slippage.
Are tools regularly checked for wear
Are the right tools available for the job
Are any tools adapted to fit the job, a sure sign that it is an incorrect tool.
Are sharp edges covered when not in use.
Are tool racks used for ease of access and not big boxes that have to be rummaged through.
2. Training
When did everyone last receive training in safe use of hand tools? Yes, even your core skilled fitter 28 years into the job need training now and then, stop unsafe habits creeping in.
3. Left Handedness, Right Handedness
Looking at accident reports often shows that it was the idle hand that got injured whilst resting in an unsafe place. Education is key to this one for people to be aware of the vulnerable spare hand.
4. Near Miss
Encourage near miss reporting, so that you can foster a better culture, and make the employees more aware of the need to work safely.
5. 60 second risk assessment
Not sure how this initiative will go, it has not been in place long at our place of work, again it is about education to try and get very experienced workers just to stop for a minute and think about the job and asociated hazards.
6. Finally, PPE is the last resort
Have a mobile display of all the gloves and barrier creams available and raise awareness of use of PPE.
Hope some of this helps.
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Posted By Bill Fisher
Roy
I couldn't add to Angela's words except the minor point - start with the supervisors.
Sell the benifits to them and consider preparing a script for them to deliver through tool-box talks.
Like Angela and yourself the Site I am on had a rash of hand injuries, mainly cuts, and with the support of supervision, positive use of anti-cut gloves and introduction of safety knives they got the problem licked.
Bill
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Posted By Roy Macpherson
Thank you all for your input, I have presented my report to our management after due consideration of the info that I gathered, your help is greatly appreciated. If you would like a copy of the report please email me direct and I will forward it to you.
Roy
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