5 Strategies to Protect Your Hands in the Workplace

Hands are particularly vulnerable to injury in the workplace. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports approximately 186,830 occupational injuries to hands and wrists that involved days away from work. Fortunately, these injuries can be easily prevented with proper precautions. Here are 5 strageties to avoid hand injuries in the workplace: 

1. Wear the appropriate gloves to protect your hands when working with hot substances, chemicals, sharp objects and other common workplace hand hazards. 
2. Never use your hands to sweep up metal shavings, glass, wood chips, or other sharp objects.
3. Use the proper tool(s) for the job and if using power tools, be sure you know how to use them safely. Avoid using hands to feed material into machines.
4. Never operate machinery or power tools under the influence of alcohol or drugs - even some prescription drugs can be hazardous.
5. Stretch your hands and fingers from time to time to give tense and tired muscles a chance to relax.