Hand crushing injuries are common when rigging and handling equipment.
“While operating the 15 Ton Galion Mobile Crane to remove and lower pipes from ‘F’ Decanter, Crane Operator tried to use his hand to prevent swinging pipe from hitting against cab of crane.
This resulted in the pipe crushing the first joint of his right middle finger against the cab of the crane.”
ADOPT DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR
- Do not position your hand so it can be caught between the load and an adjacent object when the load is initially lifted and when guiding the load
- Do not slow down swinging loads by hand.
- Anticipate sideways movement / tilting when load is lifted
- Use a tool to guide the cable or line onto a winching drum of a hoist.
Never use your hands
- Wear leather gloves
- Inspect hooks and chain slings before use
Your hands are the best tools you will ever have! Watch where both your hands are when working
Do not put your hands / fingers where you cannot see them
Do not forget about your other hand when using a tool
Watch that other Hand!
- Keep your other hand in a defensive position.
- Do not hold the work object when using a grinder or sharp tool – use a clamp
“Worker was preparing a piece of pipe for welding – he held the pipe in his right hand – the grinder moved forwards and he suffered a cut between his thumb and forefinger and a restricted work injury”
Do not Use Defective Tools!
“While removing a gusset, the guard of the grinder loosened and locked the machine against the valve. This caused the grinder to twist and the disc cut the back of the worker’s hand”
Only use tools in the RIGHT condition
As soon as a tool becomes defective stop using it.
Anticipate Movement
“Two workers were removing a flangeless control valve”
“The crane pulley block was not directly over the valve – there was one bolt left the valve tilted pinching the middle finger of one contractor between the valve body and the remaining bolt”
Anticipate movement – adopt defensive behaviour by not placing fingers in potential pinch points
Unanticipated Stored Energy
Hand injuries can occur when least expected from the release of Stored Energy.
ADOPT DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR WHEN….
- Opening and dismantling mechanical devices containing springs, e.g., safety valves, control valves, spring loaded mechanical seals / accumulators, etc. and
- Cutting piping
- Moving piping from spring hangers
- Working on seized rotating equipment
- Hammering in wedges or shims
Anticipate Stored Energy
“Contractor suffered a lost time injury when working on a spring tensioner on a rolling door. After unscrewing second bolt the spring started rotating striking and cutting middle finger”
Know the internals of devices before dismantling
- Anticipate movement of coiled / energized springs
- Maintain hands and fingers in defensive position
Working around Vehicles
“Crane driver crushed thumb between cab and door when exiting cab”
“Fork lift driver pinched his little finger between pin, used to attach trailer, and vehicle body”
Recognize vehicle potential pinch-points
- Maintain hands and fingers in defensive position
“The arrogance of success is to think that what we did yesterday is good enough for tomorrow.” _ William Pollard