SNVL

Hand tools injury

prevention

We Make it Happen
Dr Zehari STOP!!!!!!
TPC HSE TEAM
JC Dafel
Dr Wahid See the Hazard
 Warm up question:
What is wrong in this picture?
Can you see the soda cans inside this wall. Instead of concrete or bricks, you see the cans instead. The soda cans were used
as part of building materials. Is it safe to live in a house like this? Unsafe Acts - Hazards in Construction
First question asked when you get injured whilst using hand tools
is: ……...Was he wearing Gloves? …but why do they ask this ?
 What do the following pictures have in common?

They all involved hand tools, BUT the right procedures or

best work methods were not always followed

RESULTING IN
THIS! THIS! OR EVEN THIS!
 What are hand tools?
Definition:

• An extension for our arms and hands

• Equipment designed to do the tasks our fingers cannot

• Something to make tasks easier and more efficient

• Something designed to speed up operations

• Any portable piece of equipment to assist our hands

• Something we would all be lost without if we did not have
them!
 Hand tool injury prevention
Some real life accident causes
• Using the wrong sized spanners for the job.
• Attempting to lift too heavy weight
• Using a spanner or wrench as a hammer.
• Handling round objects leading to pinching, crushing
• Hammering on ring spanners.
• Over reaching to do a job and the spanner slipping.
• Flying objects from tools in bad condition.
• Tools falling from heights.
And many many more !
 What is a hand tool injury prevention
campaign?
A program to reduce incidents, including injuries related to working with our hands by:

• Improving our attitude and thus behavior

• Improving our awareness
• Understanding tool safety
 THE STOP OBSERVATION CYCLE

DECIDE REPORT
STOP
…for Safety

STOP ACT

OBSERVE

Using the STOP system lets go on a STOP tour

 Observation Technique
• Stand still and observe below, above, behind
and inside
• Is this a dangerous situation ?
• What can go wrong ?
• How can it be prevented ?

• Observe both safe and at risk behavior

• Observe what you see people do
• Observe what people have omitted to do
• Observe what people are going to do
• Observe the work environment

Using the STOP system lets go on a STOP tour

 Some real life pictures
Now look and discuss the procedures for the following pictures.
Give additional ideas to make them correct

PINCH
POINT
STOP
…for Safety

Pinch point

incorrect Better

If you saw practices like these, what would you do?

 THE STOP OBSERVATION CYCLE

DECIDE REPORT
STOP
…for Safety

STOP ACT

OBSERVE

The STOP system keeps you going…..home!

 Hand tools injury prevention
So how can we make sure our hand tools are kept in the
best possible condition?
• Visually checking before use.
• Using them for their intended purpose.
• Having the correct tools before starting a task.
• Cleaning them before and after use.
• Storing them in the correct container or rack.
• Discontinue using worn out hand tools. Replace them.
 Hand tools injury prevention
Examples of Visual inspection
Ring spanners and open ended spanners.
Check to ensure that no wear or distortion is visible in
spanner head and that spanner is a good fit on the bolts
Used, the spanner shaft should be straight.
Pipe wrenches.
Check jaws are in good condition with the teeth sharp
and not worn, worm gear should be a good fit with no
cracks or visible defects.
 Hand tools injury prevention
Examples of Visual inspection
Hammers.
Handles are not cracked or split and the head is securely
attached. Make sure the handle is a sufficient length and
the head has no cracks or pieces missing.
Chisels.
Make sure that the chisel head has not been damaged
and is not mushroomed. The chisel blade is sharp and no
visible defects are seen with no pieces missing.
 Hand tools injury prevention
Lets continue and talk Visual inspection of:
Drills. Check ?
Screwdrivers. Check ?
Water pump pliers. Check ?
Side cutter. Check ?
Vice grip. Check ?
Stanley knife. Check ?
Benchvice. Check ?
Portable Drilling machine . Check ?
 Hand tool injury prevention
Some real examples

Pinch point

Incorrect use Correct use

A high proportion of the finger and hand injuries sustained
are from the wrong use of hammers.
The picture on the left resulted in an LTI.
 Hand tool injury prevention
Air operated power tools

Drills, buffers, grinders, needle guns.

• Air line conditions
• Hose connections
• Safety pins / whip checks
• Safety release mechanism
• Correct equipment
 Hand tool injury prevention
Electrically operated power tools
Additional hazards involved could cause electric shocks and
even death
• Cable inspection
• Lock out switches
• Carrying tools
• Automatic shut downs
• Power supplies
 Hand tool injury prevention
Power tools some examples
Impact wrenches

Air buffers Grinders

Remember
All these tools have the potential to
cause serious injury or even death.
Electrica saws Learn how they work be safe!
Before doing any job on site be sure that you have
checked:

• Pre Planning
• Correct tools
• Tool conditions
• Tools at height
• Pinch points
• STOP
 Remember!

DO NO BECOME THESE PICTURES!

Example of a blowout laceration to an index finger. This can
occur when a log falls on your finger or smashed between a
rock. This gentleman was lucky. These lacerations usually
involve a fracture, this one however did not.
If you can return from the outdoors in 2days or less, this
wound can be bandaged and immobilized as long as it is
thoroughly cleaned and irrigated. If greater than 3 days, one
may attempt closure
too close to a punch press
An avulsion laceration of the left index finger. This is a common
injury when a pinching motion has occured between two objects,
like using a “GWALA”……..
Unless one can get to medical help with a salvaged piece of skin
in less than 12 hours, a skin graft as the one aboved should not
be attempted. This wound should be thoroughly irrigated,
cleaned, and bandaged. This will heal nicely over time.
Crushing injury to the left index of a young man. This laceration encompassed 75%
of the girth of the finger. In this injury you can clearly see the flexor tendon.
However, this individual was lucky enough to avoid a tenden laceration.
In the outdoors, this finger needs to be irrigated, bandaged, and splinted. If transport
is greater than 3 days, antibiotic coverage is highly recommended
This gentleman sustained a crush injury to the palm of his right hand.
Although he did not have any fractures, he had one flexor tendon laceration.
The flexor tendons are the tendons in our hand that makes our fingers curl in.
This was a very dirty wound and needed to be cleaned and irrigated
thoroughly. The wound was temporarily closed and was sent to a specialist to
repair his flexor tendons. It's important to note his hand was bandaged as well
as splinted past the wrist so he could not move his fingers until he saw the
specialist.
This young man had his finger caught when a car door slammed on it. This
injury can also occur by a log or a rock dropping on one's finger. One should
always assume that there is also a fracture involved with the laceration.
Irrigation with water and bandaging is a must. These crush injury wounds
should always be splinted and elevated to decrease swelling. This gentleman was
walking and had no tendon laceration or fracture.
While using a saw, this man cut off a portion of his thumb. There was no bone
involvement in this laceration.
Partial amputations of this nature usually do very well. Cleaning the wound is
very important with large amounts of water. Bandage and transport
What is common in this Picture?
If you love your wife , leave your rings at home….. Or you must
be satisfied not to Hug her, or hold hands with her!
ANGLE GRINDERS !!!!!!!……………….
There is nothing better than to hold your kids hand in Yours.
&
Walking into the sunset with him!
 Final Note
With a little time and consideration we have the ability to reduce or
eliminate a high proportion of these injuries,

Hand tools have been designed with a special purpose, use these
tools as they have been designed, if the job requires a specific tool
use that tool do not improvise.

If you see someone doing it wrong STOP the job and explain why a
few minutes now saves a long time to heal later
 RECAP THE STOP OBSERVATION
CYCLE

DECIDE REPORT
STOP
…for Safety
STOP ACT

OBSERVE

Use the STOP system and lets STOP accidents

TEST
 THE STOP OBSERVATION CYCLE :?

A E
STOP
…for Safety

B D

C
What safety measures do you take when working with
these hand tools?