Most of us take our hands for granted. We use our hands to take care of our basic necessities and to perform on the job duties. Imagining life without the use of our hands suddenly makes us realize how important and essential our hands really are. But because some jobs put workers’ hands at risk of being injured, it is important to find out how we can prevent hand injuries in the workplace.According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, hand injuries in the road-construction sector accounted for $48 million more than the cost of supplying all 574,000 road construction workers with protective gloves. This data was seen in a 2008 article in EHS Today, in which the article also cited that 19 percent of workers were wearing their gloves at the time of their hand injuries. According to this article, it is apparent that workers in this industry could reduce their risk of hand injuries by wearing gloves. In fact, some studies indicate that job appropriate gloves can reduce hand injuries by as much as 60 percent or more.

The Need for Hand Protection on the Job

Certain professions put employees’ hands at a greater exposure to injuries including abrasions, cuts, burns, and other harmful hazards. This is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employers supply workers in these types of industries with appropriate hand protection. While gloves alone won’t totally prevent a hand injury, hand protection along with the use of safe practices and guards can help protect against hand injuries on the job in Florida and nationwide.

If employers aren’t supplying gloves to workers who are vulnerable to disabling accidents involving hand and finger injuries, they are in violation of OSHA code 1910.138(a). All employers and manufacturers should review glove usage and assess their operations to determine how to improve safety amongst their workers. Employers not only need to supply their employees with the appropriate gloves, but also with the proper training about proper glove use and why wearing gloves is a critical element of a hand-protection program.