Identify Amputation Hazards and Prevention At Workplace
Workplace accidents resulting in amputations are often severe, sometimes disabling, and always preventable.Amputations are widespread and involve a variety of activities and equipment.
Amputations occur most often when workers operate unguarded or inadequately safeguarded mechanical power presses, power press brakes, powered and non-powered conveyors, printing presses, roll-forming and roll-bending machines, food slicers, meat grinders, meat-cutting band saws, drill presses, and milling machines as well as shears, grinders, and slitters.
Amputations injuries also happen during materials handling activities and when using forklifts and doors as well as trash compactors and powered and non-powered hand tools. Besides normal operation, the following activities involving stationary machines also expose workers to potential amputation hazards: setting up, threading, preparing, adjusting, cleaning, lubricating, and maintaining machines as well as clearing jams.
A moment's inattention—and a hand is caught in machinery. A single misstep; a foot slips in. Maybe the amputation is immediate, or perhaps the doctors determine later that a limb is too damaged to repair. Either way, it could have been prevented.
Most Hazardous Exposures
Four exposures have been identified as the leading causes of nonfatal workplace amputations:
Machinery and equipment.The greatest percentage of nonfatal amputations occurs when workers are caught in or crushed by running machinery or equipment, or when they are caught in or crushed by machinery that cycles unexpectedly.
Parts or materials.The second most common situation that leads to nonfatal amputations occurs when workers are caught in, crushed by, or struck against parts and materials—for example, when a load shifts unexpectedly or stored materials collapse on a worker.
Vehicles.Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of fatal amputations, and the third-leading cause of nonfatal amputations.
Hand tools.Hand tools, such as handheld circular saws, are the fourth most common cause of non fatal amputation.
Types of machine components are hazardous:
The following types of mechanical components present amputation hazards:
Point of operation—the area of a machine where it performs work on material.
Power-transmission apparatuses—flywheels, pulleys, belts, chains, couplings, spindles, cams, and gears in addition to connecting rods and other machine components that transmit energy.
Other moving parts—machine components that move during machine operation such as reciprocating, rotating, and transverse moving parts as well as auxiliary machine parts.
Kinds of mechanical motion are hazardous:
All mechanical motion is potentially hazardous. In addition to in-running nip points (“pinch points”), which occur when two parts move together and at least one moves in a rotary or circular motion that gears, rollers, belt drives, and pulleys generate.
The following are the most common types of hazardous mechanical motion:
Rotating—circular movement of couplings, cams, clutches, flywheels, and spindles as well as shaft ends and rotating collars that may grip clothing or otherwise force a body part into a dangerous location.
Reciprocating—back-and-forth or up-and down action that may strike or entrap a worker between a moving part and a fixed object.
Transversing—movement in a straight, continuous line that may strike or catch a worker in a pinch or shear point created between the moving part and a fixed object.
Cutting—action generated during sawing, boring, drilling, milling, slicing, and slitting.
Punching—motion resulting when a machine moves a slide (ram) to stamp or blank metal or other material.
Shearing—movement of a powered slide or knife during metal trimming or shearing.
Bending—action occurring when power is applied to a slide to draw or form metal or other materials.
Watch For These Hazards When you look for amputation hazards on machinery and equipment, remember these hazards:
Pinch points,where two parts move together and at least one of them is moving in a circle. Pinch points often occur along belt drives, chain drives, gear drives, and feeder rolls.
Wrap points,where there is an exposed piece of rotating machinery, such as a rotating shaft, especially if it extends beyond bearings or sprockets. Because they can catch clothing or fingers more easily, shafts that are splined, square, or hexagonal are generally more dangerous.
Shear points, where two moving parts move across each other or a single, sharp edge moves with enough speed or force to cut. Chain or paddle conveyors, trimmers, forklifts, and enclosed augers have shear points.
Crush points,where two objects are moving toward each other, or one object is moving toward a stationary object. Gears are common crush points.
Pull-in points,where objects can be pulled into equipment. Feeder rolls or grinders are common pull-in points.
Thrown objects, hurled by equipment with moving parts. Chippers are known to be common sources of thrown objects.
Measures For Preventing Amputation
Work practices, employee training, and administrative controls can help prevent and control amputation hazards. Machine safeguarding with the following equipment is the best way to control amputations caused by stationary machinery:
Guards provide physical barriers that prevent access to hazardous areas. They should be secure and strong, and workers should not be able to bypass, remove, or tamper with them. Guards should not obstruct the operator’s view or prevent employees from working.
Devices help prevent contact with points of operation and may replace or supplement guards. Devices can interrupt the normal cycle of the machine when the operator’s hands are at the point of operation, prevent the operator from reaching into the point of operation, or withdraw the operator’s hands if they approach the point of operation when the machine cycles. They must allow safe lubrication and maintenance and not create hazards or interfere with normal machine operation. In addition, they should be secure, tamper resistant, and durable.
In the workplace, back injuries are one of the most common
injuries and one of the most debilitating. But they can also be easily
avoided using safe lifting techniques such as proper methods of body
mechanics and material handling. Knowing the right technique for safe lifting is essential for
preventing injuries. Remember to lift from a position of power by
following these four steps:
Keep your head up
Keep your eyes and chin up. Face forward and keep your eyes parallel
to the floor. Using this position helps maintain a neutral curve in your
back while lifting.
Keep the load close
The closer the load is to your body, the better. Holding the load
away from your body can increase the chance for strains and sprains to
the shoulders, arms and back.
Use a staggered stance
While lifting, place one foot slightly in front of the other. This
will give you a more stable lift and better balance, decreasing the
chance of back strain.
Nose Follows Toes
Avoid twisting by keeping your feet and head aligned. Use your feet
to change direction, making sure to keep your entire body in line as you
do so.
Safe lifting techniques
If you can, find ways to avoid lifting manually. When available, use
mechanical lifts such as lifting tables, powered pallet jacks, forklifts
and overhead lifting systems. Look for opportunities to integrate
conveyor systems. Alternatively, try pushing or rolling instead of
lifting, if possible. When lifting is necessary, take measures to make the lift as easy as
possible. Don’t store materials on the floor or where you’ll have to
reach high to lift them. Instead, store them at heights between the
knees and shoulders, especially if they are heavy. Find ways to reduce
carrying distance and decrease the duration of the lift. Other lifting recommendations include:
Get your body warmed up and stretch prior to the lift.
When lifting, keep your back straight and use the knees and legs to take most of the load. Don’t bend at the waist.
Make sure you plan ahead – know your route and make sure the path is clear.
Ask another employee for help when lifting heavy loads. The limit for lifting is 50 pounds per person under ideal circumstances.
Communicate with the people around you. Let them know where you are and where you’re going in order to avoid accidents.
Safe patient handling
Within a healthcare setting, there are a few more things to keep in mind when lifting patients or residents. Always use mechanical assist devices whenever indicated by the care
plan. Devices should be readily accessible and kept in good condition.
Examples include sit-to-stand lifts, friction reducers and slide boards,
walkers and shower chairs, trapeze bars and safety rails. If you don’t
know how to use this equipment ask your supervisors for instruction and
assistance. When feasible ask the patient to help you as much as possible and
communicate with them about what you are going to do. If you need
assistance, get help from a coworker. Using these safe lifting techniques will not only help you avoid
painful back injuries, but it's also more comfortable and less invasive
for your patients.
Back injuries are some of the most frequent and hardest-to-prevent injuries on the job.
As per an analysis more than one million workers suffer back injuries each year, and back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries or illnesses.
Lifting is part of everyday life and part of everyone's job to some degree. Back injuries are common at work and can be very debilitating. But they can be easily prevented by following some best practices in body mechanics, material handling, load planning, work-space organization and worker rotation
There
are many injuries on the job caused by individuals moving objects by
hand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that strains and sprains
are the most prevalent type of injury on the job. While these types of
injuries can be hard to prevent it is possible through taking the right
steps. Many injuries are suffered due to individuals who are willing to
take risks while completing lifts.
Types of Injuries Sustained While Completing Lifts
These types of injuries account for a large majority of worker’s compensation claims every year.
Back injuries often occur when:
An individual is lifting up an object.
Using improper lifting techniques such as lifting with the back and not the legs.
Lifting an object that is too heavy for the individual.
Twisting while lifting or carrying objects.
Repetitive lifting during a work task.
Create awareness about safe lifting techniques. Use our safe lifting resources to fix wrong behaviors and train employees about proper body mechanics when bending and lifting.
Educate your supervisors
Advice is followed most when it comes from the top. Supervisors play a huge role in demonstrating, training and setting expectations for employees on proper lifting techniques. They are also key in watching for potential risks and working to reduce them. Use our supervisor tools to get your supervisors up to speed.
Help employees plan their lifts
Tell your employees to avoid lifting when possible. If they have to lift, explain the proper way to lift using our four-step approach:
Keep your head up
Keep the load close
Use a staggered stance
Don't twist
How to Prevent Back Injuries
Eliminate– Best way to protect individuals against back injuries is to eliminate as many lifts as possible during the workday. Using equipment such as forklifts, heavy equipment, dollies, etc. is the best way to eliminate handling and lifting objects by hand. Break down large or heavy objects that pose a hazard when lifting into smaller safer loads when possible.
Engineering Controls– Set up work areas that are ergonomically friendly to all employees. Install mechanical lifting devices and conveyor belts where feasible to limit handling objects. Install proper shelving and set up storage areas that keep objects and lifts within an optimal range. Keeping objects within the proper range helps keep employees from making awkward or dangerous lifts that can result in a sprain.
Administrative Controls– Use the buddy system when lifting any awkward or heavy objects. Agree on weight limits for lifting. For example, having a policy to not lift anything over 100lbs as a team without first involving a supervisor to see if there is a safer way to complete the lift is an example of an administrative control. Also, always select employees who are physically capable of making the lifts of a task before the work begins.
Personal protective equipment- Such as back supports or back belts have not shown to be overly effective in preventing back injuries. These devices often create a false sense of security when completing lifts. Individuals should focus on stretching and using proper lifting techniques over using a back belt to keep them safe.
Manual Handling Injury Prevention
Most of you have probably heard that in order to lift safely, you must lift properly. You're told to "bend your knees not your back," and "don't twist as you lift." This is good advice but sometimes seems to go against human nature. Yet, there are actions you can take to help you lift properly 1. Get as close to the load as possible. The further the load is from the center line of your body, the greater the strain imposed on your back. If need be, squat down to lift the load and pull it between your legs. This gets it closer to the center of your body and helps prevent the need to bend at the waist. However, since your leg muscles are the largest muscles in your body, they are the biggest energy consumers. Repeated squatting can be very fatiguing, and reduces a person's ability to lift in this manner for any length of time. In addition to lifting the load, you are also hoisting the majority of your body weight. For repeated lifting, other strategies must be used.
2. Avoid picking up heavy objects placed below your knees. Try to see that heavy objects are placed and stored above knee level and below shoulder level. If you suspect the load is too heavy to be lifted comfortably, do not chance it. Use a mechanical aid, break the load down into its component parts, or get help. The most common cause of back injury is overloading.
3. Keep your back straight. This means don't bend at the waist when reaching to lift an object. Keep the natural arch in your lower back, which distributes the load evenly over the surface of spinal disks, and is less stressful than if the disk is pinched between vertebras. Bending principally from the hips is acceptable if you maintain the arch in your back, rather than bending at the waist.
4. Glue your hand to your thigh. If you carry a load in one hand, such as when carrying a tool box, place your free hand on the outside of your thigh and mentally "glue" it into position. This will help you maintain correct back alignment rather than lifting and tilting to one side. When carrying a heavy load, side bending can be just as stressful to the spine as bending forward.
5. Tighten your stomach muscles. This technique helps prevent your spine from twisting. If you lift a load and need to place it off to one side, turn by moving your feet. After repeated lifts you might find yourself getting a bit sloppy and forgetting to move your feet. You can overcome this tendency if the place you set the load down is at least one step away from where it is lifted. If you wear a back support belt, wear it low on your trunk and loosen it when you are not lifting.
6. Stay in good physical condition. A protruding stomach is an extra load carried away from the center line of the body, and prevents you from keeping a lifted object close-the number one rule for back care. When you bend at the waist to lift, due to the leverage principal, the load is up to 10 times heavier than its actual weight. A "pot belly" puts extra, stressful weight on the spine.
7. Stretch and loosen up before work. Research has shown that trunk flexibility and mobility is significantly lower in the morning than later in the day, increasing the number and severity of back strains at this time. A few minutes of stretching can warm up cold stiff muscles and tendons and help you avoid an injury. All professional athletes know this-"industrial athletes" should too!
Best Practices for Manual Handling
The single best protection you can take from getting an injury while completing a lift is to eliminate lifting by hand! Elimination should
always be the first consideration while discussing mitigating hazards
on the job. Much of the manual handling on the job can be completely
eliminated through proper planning, engineering controls, or use a piece
of equipment to complete the lift. When setting up any job area or
placing an object down, the next person who has to move the object
should be thought of. If the object is awkward or heavy and there is no
room for a piece of equipment to be able to lift it then someone will
have to end up handling the object again. These situations can lead to
injury. Properly plan out work tasks so that objects do not need to be
repeatedly lifted and moved. Each time a lift is made there is chance
for injury.
A
best practice is to establish a weight limit of what one person or a
team of people are allowed to lift and carry on a work site. Consider a
cut-off weight before mechanical means need to be used to lift the
object. For example some companies have the policy that no single person
can lift an object heavier than 50lbs and a team of people cannot lift
anything over 100lbs. While you may be able to handle these weights, it
is good to have an established point where manual handling is no longer
an option.
Summary
Injuries
due to manual handling can be hard to prevent, that is why eliminating
as many of these lifts as possible is important. Plan out your work
tasks and your work areas to reduce the chance of manual handling
injuries. It is important to know your limits and not to exceed them.
Even if you are strong it is easy to injure back muscles due to lifting
awkward or heavy objects.
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 bones along with the soft tissue that allows 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.
As per different accident analysis close to 20% of all days away from work injuries are hand related. In fact around 10% of all hospital emergency visits are related to hand injuries and 40% of these injuries involve lacerations or cuts.
Each
year million of people suffer hand injuries; over those many serious and disabling. The hand is one of the most
complex parts of your body - the movement of the tendons, bones, tissues
and nerves allows you to grip and do a wide variety of complex jobs.
Without
your hands it would be extremely difficult to do routine simple tasks,
such as opening doors, using a fork, or tying your shoes. Tuck your
thumb into your palm and imagine trying to tie your shoes. It would be
extremely difficult.
Hand
injuries are difficult to repair because of the complexity of the hand.
After a hand injury, the hand may not function as it did before the
injury due to loss of motion, dexterity and grip.
Over 25% of all industrial injuries involve the hand, wrist and fingers. Typical injuries include:
Puncture wounds
Lacerations
Broken fingers
Contusions
Thermal Burns
Chemical Burns
These injuries occur when:
Cutting or using a sharp tool
Using hand tools
Reaching into moving parts
Working with chemicals
Touching something hazardous (electrical or thermal)
How should you avoid hand injuries?
Complete a pre task Safe Plan of Action (SPA) so that you can eliminate the hazards and dangers in the job to be done.
Be aware of pinch points. Be aware of hot points.
Be aware of rotating or moving surfaces. Automated machinery may be controlled by remote control, or delay timing devices that cause the machine to start automatically.
Loose clothing and jewelry may be caught up in moving machinery.
Never remove machine safeguards or operate machinery with safeguards removed.
Use the appropriate tool for the job.
Wear the right gloves, that fit correctly, and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
HandTools
Here are some facts about hand injuries and hand tools:
Many persons are injured annually using hammers.
Many using standard blade screwdrivers & crescent wrenches.
Every year, many persos end up in the emergency room as a result of hand-tool-related injuries.
The improper use of hand tools causes many injuries everyday throughout the world. Tools are not used as intended, they are used improperly or they are in poor condition. It is very important to inspect any hand tool prior to its use. Ensure the tool is not worn, broken and is in good working condition.
Here are some other tips:
Hammers
Never use a hammer with a splintered, cracked, or loose handle
Don’t use hammers with rounded striking faces
Don’t strike a hammer face with another hammer
Don’t use nail hammer claws as a pry bar
Wrenches
Use the correct sized wrench for the job
Don’t use pliers or crescent wrenches on bolt and nuts, use the proper wrench.
Pull on wrenches rather than pushing them
Never use a cheater bar on a wrench
Screwdrivers
When using screwdrivers, place the object on a flat surface or in a vise, don’t hold it in your hand!
Don’t use screwdrivers as chisels or pry bars
Use the correct size driver for the screw
Don’t use screwdrivers with chipped tips
Chemicals
One way chemicals can enter our bodies is through absorption through the skin. More often than not, this occurs through the hands as we handle various chemicals.
It’s important to read the label and to know the chemicals you are working with and to utilize protective gloves when handling chemicals.
Chemicals can cause irritations to your skin. Most of the time this isn’t acute and doesn’t occur with just one unprotected handling of the chemical, but it’s with repeated unprotected handling of the chemical.
Detergents and solvents can dry out your skin and dissolve the oils in your hands. Your hands may develop a rash that is further irritated as you use your hands to work on various tasks. Continued abrasion of the tender skin can cause you further irritation and discomfort.
Also some chemicals such as caustic Sodium Hydroxide can cause a burn to your hands. Very acid or caustic chemicals can immediately burn your skin from contact.
It’s important you protect your skin with gloves. More importantly, the right glove for the chemicals you are handling. Not all gloves are made the same. Neoprene gloves work great for many workplace chemicals such as solvents and detergents.
However they are not effective for some chemicals such as Benzene. Latex gloves don’t work well with many solvents. Cut-resistant gloves work well on sharp objects, but won’t do a thing against chemicals.
Even after using gloves, you should wash your hands after handling chemicals and especially before you eat, drink or smoke.
Protect your hands from irritation and burns, utilize gloves whenever handling chemicals.
Lacerations
In a recent study of hand injuries the leading cause of injury was contact with cutting or piercing objects, most often pieces of metal, razors and knives, power tools and nails.
Fingers and hands were the most-injured body parts among the construction workers in this study, accounting for one-third of emergency room visits. Many of these injuries were amputations, partial amputations, crushes and fractures where most of are laceration.
So how can we reduce hand injuries? : A recent study found that wearing gloves reduced the relative risk of injury.
We have seen here in our own facility and through the corporation that the wearing of cut-resistant gloves and cut-resistant sleeves when handling or working around cut hazards had dramatically reduced lacerations.The study also showed that workers reported that they had worn gloves at work time, and some percent reported wearing gloves at the time of the injury. Gloves are only effective when you wear them.
To reduce the chance of injury when working around cut hazards it is important that you wear the cut-resistant gloves and sleeves. They are made of Kevlar or Dyneema and offer cut resistance to sharp objects. Understand, they are certainly not cut-proof, however they afford you much protection when working with and around sharp items such as:
Utility knives
Saw blades
Dies
Knives
Sheet Metal
Glass
And similar cut hazards
AwarenessandPlacement
Every year there are thousands of disabling injuries to the hands as people place their hands in places they would not normally think of placing them.
Amputations, crushing injuries and the like occur as people touch moving or rotating parts on equipment and tools.
Failure to use guards, kill-switches, or to follow appropriate lock-out procedures are among the leading hand hazards.
In many cases people are in a hurry and don’t think about the risk associated in doing such or aren’t aware of their proximity to the hazard in the first place.
Every time you are near a moving piece of equipment your risk increases. It’s important to decrease that risk by not touching, leaning or in other ways coming in contact with the running machine.
Some hand injuries occur because people don’t know they were near the hazard. If you are RIGHT handed you need to pay particular notice of the position of your LEFT hand.
We are accustomed to using one hand for many tasks and we “lose track” of the position of the less dominant hand. This less dominate hand ends up leaning or touching something as we are working and that increases our risk when around equipment.
Rules to Preserve Ten Fingers
1. Beware of pinch points.
Train yourself to recognize pinch pints and avoid placing your hands and fingers in such hazardous spots.
2. Expect the unexpected.
When using wrenches and other hand tools, with which you expect resistance, anticipate that the tool might slip or the object to which pressure is being applied may suddenly give way.
3. Inspect tools.
Check to see if they are in good condition and safe to use.
4. Do not work on moving equipment.
If the equipment can be stopped, do so.Working on moving equipment presents a real threat to hands and fingers.
5. Replace machine guards following repairs that require removal of guards.
The presence of machine guards is an important factor in keeping hands and fingers
out of dangerous areas.
6. Be mindful of equipment that starts automatically.
Never work on such equipment without first eliminating the possibility of automatic startup.
7. De-energize electrical equipment prior to working on it.
Flash burns caused by electrical equipment shorting out are a threat to hands and fingers when work around such equipment is being performed.
8. Be mindful when closing doors.
Keep hands and fingers clear. Also, watch for children’s fingers in the family car.
9. Avoid touching lines or equipment that is hot.
Every hot line or hot piece of equipment is a potential source of painful injury to any hand or finger that comes in contact with it.
10.If the work being performed requires gloves, use them.
Gloves offer protection from sharp objects, wood and metal splinters, acids, electrical burns, chemicals, and many other sources of injury.
A pinch point is defined as any point where it is possible for a body part to be caught between moving and stationary portions of machinery or equipment. If a person or body part occupies that space during the pinching movement, there is a high probability of injuries such as fractures, amputations, or even death.
One of the key steps in dealing with pinch point hazards is to conduct a thorough risk assessment of the work environment to identify potential pinch points and assess the level of risk posed by each one. This may involve physically inspecting equipment, machinery. and workstations to identify any pinch points, as well as reviewing accident reports and near-miss incidents to understand where and how pinch point accidents are occurring.
Once potential pinch points have been identified, measures should be implemented to eliminate or control the hazards.
This may involve modifying equipment or machinery to remove or guard pinch points.
Implementing safe work procedures to minimize the risk of accidental contact with pinch points, or providing training to workers on how to recognize and avoid pinch point hazards.
Proper guarding is an essential component of preventing pinch point accidents.
Guarding can take many forms, including fixed guards, interlocking guards, adjustable guards. and barrier guards.
The type of guard used will depend on the specific hazards present in the work environment, as well as the type of equipment being used.
In addition to physical guarding, it is important to implement administrative controls to further minimize the risk of pinch point accidents.
This may include implementing lockout/tagout procedures to ensure that equipment is de-energized and locked out before maintenance or servicing work is performed, providing adequate warning signage to alert workers to the presence of pinch points, and conducting regular ins pections to ensure that guards are in place and functioning properly.
Be aware of pinch point hazards on your job and take these precautions:
Prior to use, make sure that all covers and protective shields for equipment and machinery pinch point hazards are in place. Never work around moving machines while the guards are removed.
De-energize, lock-out, and tag equipment being repaired.
Be on guard whenever you put your hands, fingers, toes, or feet "between" anything.
Make sure you have the proper hand clearance when setting down loads or carrying loads through doors.
Wear gloves that are appropriate for the task. Keep in mind, however, that gloves may cause an additional hazard during some tasks if they get caught in moving parts.
Avoid wearing jewelry or loose clothing that could be caught in moving parts. Tie back long hair.
Training is also a critical component of deaiing with pinch point hazards.
All workers should be trained on the potential hazards associated with pinch points, how to properly use and maintain guards, and how to safely operate equipment to minimize the risk of accidents.
Regular refresher training should be provided to ensure that workers remain aware of the risks and know how to protect themselves.
Overall, dealing with pinch point hazards requires a proactive and comprehensive approach to identifying, assessing, and controlling the risks associated with these hazards. By taking appropriate precautions and implementing effective controls, employers can help to ensure the safety and well-being of their workers
Cuts, Nicks, , Scratches and Burns. Minor injuries that can occur to any one of us no matter how careful we are. Minor injuries to the skin that are often ignored. But it must be remembered that skin is a vital organ; one that should not be ignored. Not only is skin the largest bodily organ, it also keeps the good stuff in and the bad stuff out.
So what do you do when you get a minor injury?
If you are like many, you realize a doctor's visit is not necessary and try to treat the injury yourself.
How do you know when to seek professional treatment?
How do you treat injuries that do not require a doctor's visit?
Cuts: Cuts require immediate professional attention if:
There is severe bleeding, especially arterial wounds, which literally pump blood from the body.
Puncture wounds, such as those caused by a rusty nail or animal bite. These will require a tetanus booster shot.
Cuts more than one half inch long and one quarter inch deep, which will require stitches.
To treat any cuts, first stop the bleeding and then treat to prevent infection. Place a sterile gauze (or if you do not have any gauze, a clean cloth) over the wound and hold it until the bleeding stops. Apply pressure continuously. If the gauze or cloth soaks through, simply place another cloth over the first and resume the pressure. When the bleeding has stopped, wash the cut with soap and water, followed by a disinfectant. If the bleeding does not stop, get professional treatment. After the cut is clean, look for any foreign object(s) in the cut and remove them. If you do not, a threatening infection may set in. To aid in keeping the wound clean while it heals, you can cover it with a bandage. However, if you use a bandage, remember it will need attention too. Change it twice daily and use an antibiotic cream to prevent further infection. Keep in mind that wounds exposed to air heal faster. But it is also very important to keep a wound clean and dry to prevent infection. Treatment for a scrape is the same, except you do not have to worry about stopping blood flow as there is very little.
Burns: Burns are classified as first, second, or third degree
A first degree burn causes redness. Blistering is caused by a second degree burn. Charred, blackened or blanched skin are signs of a third degree burn. Furthermore, burns can be caused by heat (thermal burns) or by contact with chemicals. Seek professional, medical treatment for:
All third degree burns.
Second degree burns involving more than one fifth of the body or if the burn has affected the face, hands, feet, or genitalia.
First aid treatment for a burn involves relief of pain, infection prevention and treatment or prevention of shock. If a burn begins to blister, cool it by placing your hand or foot in cold, still (not running) water. You will need to use an ice pack on any other part of the body. Gently clean the burn and cover the area with a sterile, non-stick gauze. Change the dressing twice a day. Never puncture a blister. This just opens the door for infection. Never use butter, oils, or petroleum jelly on burns. If the burn is due to a chemical exposure, flush the burned area with running water for at least 15 minutes. While you flush, remove any contaminated clothing, especially clothing in the area of the burn. Check the first aid instructions for the chemical. These are found on the container and/or Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Treat as specified. Cover the burn with a clean dressing and call a doctor.
If a third degree burn is involved, get professional medical treatment quickly. Call an ambulance first. While awaiting professional help, make sure any fire is out and/or remove the victim from the burn source. DO NOT REMOVE ANY CLOTHING OR APPLY ANY DRESSINGS. Treat for shock and make sure the victim is still breathing.
Use common sense in all situations. Maintain a well stocked first aid kit and be familiar with first aid procedures. Being knowledgeable and prepared may be the smartest first step of all.
Many of us know about the Incident Pyramid already, but some of the newer employees may not.
This
pyramid is nothing more than a representation of the statistics about
injuries. Year after year, industry after industry, injuries
statistically fall into this pyramid.
Near
Misses & Unsafe Acts are the bottom of the pyramid. There are thousands
of these. These are things such as not wearing your seat-belt on a
forklift. Not putting your machine in ESP while clearing a jam, not
wearing cut resistant gloves while putting on a cutting die or changing cutting blades.
Next up are Recordable Injuries. These are
injuries that require more than basic first aid. The injury may require a
prescription anti-biotic, physical therapy, a few sutures and things
that are above and beyond first aid treatment. For all the thousands of
near misses and unsafe acts, sooner or later it will result in an injury
that requires this type of treatment.
Next up are Life Changing Serious Injuries. For every 600 recordable injuries statistically, year after
year, industry after industry, there will be 30 life changing injuries.
That is 5%. These are injuries such as amputations, major surgeries,
broken bones and the like. These types of injuries will change your life
and those who depend on you.
And finally at the top there is a Fatal Injury. For every 30 life changing injuries, there will be one fatal injury.
So
what does this mean? We need to work on the unsafe acts and the near
misses at the base of the pyramid. If you can reduce or eliminate those,
then you can stop the cascade effect that comes with injuries to begin
with. To eliminate the recordable and life changing injuries you need to
reduce the near misses and unsafe acts.
The only way to stop it is to eliminate the unsafe acts and near misses.
If employees don't know what the hazards are—or could be—they can't effectively protect against them. Employees therefore should:
Think about the tasks they perform and what could go wrong and cause an accident.
Inspect their work area and workstation at the beginning of every work shift.
Inspect equipment, PPE, and materials before use.
Consider their safety attitude and fitness to work (for example, are they rested? concentrating? limber?).
2.Plan ahead.
Before starting a job, employees should think about such things as:
PPE, equipment, and materials they will be working with
Specific tasks they will be performing
Where and with whom they will be working
Applicable safety procedures and rules
What they would need to do in the event of an emergency
3.Stay alert.
To work safely, employees must pay attention while they work. They must:
Give the task their full attention.
Avoid distractions.
Beware of becoming self-satisfied about safety or taking shortcuts, no matter how many times they've performed a task or how many years of experience they have.
Pay attention to people and conditions around them and of any changes in activities or conditions that could create new or different hazards.
4.Ask questions.
Employees should ask their supervisor whenever:
They're not sure what to do or do not understand a safety rule or procedure
They're unsure whether something is a hazard
They don’t know what type of PPE to use
They're dealing with a new substance, procedure, or piece of equipment
Something seems wrong, but they are not sure what
5.Take near misses seriously.
Near misses should be taken as a warning that something's wrong and needs to be corrected. As, all accidents are headed by one or more near misses.
In the workplace, back injuries are one of the most common
injuries and one of the most debilitating. But they can also be easily
avoided using safe lifting techniques such as proper methods of body
mechanics and material handling.
The closer the load is to your body, the better. Holding the load
away from your body can increase the chance for strains and sprains to
the shoulders, arms and back.
Always use mechanical assist devices whenever indicated by the care
plan. Devices should be readily accessible and kept in good condition.
Examples include sit-to-stand lifts, friction reducers and slide boards,
walkers and shower chairs, trapeze bars and safety rails. If you don’t
know how to use this equipment ask your supervisors for instruction and
assistance.
Pinch Point
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