Puncture risk
Puncture risk
Careless handling of sharp-pointed objects can easily injure hands. Safety of feet and toes is also at risk – one moment of carelessness is enough to step on a sticking wire or a nail. Both types of injuries can cause workers to be long-term unfit for performance, which is why it is always worth preventing them.
Stab injuries pose a risk to workers in professional operations and anyone else who works with sharp-tipped tools. Let's look at this hazard from both a professional and a layman's perspective.
Punctures in workplaces
Punctures in workplaces
Along with cuts and lacerations, stab wounds are among the most common occupational injuries. Risky workplaces are construction sites and factories; workers in agriculture and forestry are also at risk.
Sometimes it is an almost imperceptible skin injury, other times the wound is more serious. It is essential to always stop the bleeding and thoroughly clean and treat the wound to prevent infection. In certain cases, a tetanus shot should also be part of the treatment. If you find foreign objects in the wound, seek medical attention.
How do the accidents happen?
Stab wounds can occur at work in a number of ways: the worker uses an unsuitable work tool or a tool in poor condition. Poor lighting, clutter and dirt can also play a role, as can insufficient training, working too quickly, losing focus, not using the right protective equipment, and not following safety procedures.
Employers must keep their employees safe
Employers must implement work procedures to identify and manage worker exposure to puncture and stab wounds.
The most effective procedure is to avoid the risk of puncture. If you can replace a dangerous activity with robotic work, do it. In the same way, the risk can be outsourced and removed from the operation completely. If these options to eliminate the risk of cuts are too expensive, adequate protection must be used through PPE - protecting the employee from piercing hands and feet.
How to protect yourself if the risk cannot be avoided?
How to protect yourself if the risk cannot be avoided?
Always make sure you are using safe tools in good condition and that you are handling them in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
- Pass pointed tools to other workers handle first
- Make sure the tips are sharp - blunt tips require more force, increasing the risk of an accident.
- Wear necessary PPE, including goggles, gloves and boots.
- Never carry screwdrivers and other sharp-tipped tools in your pockets
- Be extra careful when working with a drill, nail gun, stapler and sewing machine.
- Do not leave exposed sharp points unattended
- When handling pointed instruments, do not aim them at the body
- Store sharp tools in a separate drawer
- Always work on a flat and stable surface
- Be careful of sticking nails when working with wood
- Keep the workplace tidy
- Follow standardized work regulations.
You are also at risk of stab wounds at home
Even at home, you are not absolutely safe. You can be injured by objects that are commonly found in the home, as well as pets with sharp claws and teeth. The wound must always be cleaned and treated. If you have problems with the mobility of the injured limb, see a doctor as a nerve or ligament might have been damaged.
Stab injuries at home are caused by:
- Kitchen utensils with sharp points (skewers and grill needles, forks, knives, meat thermometers, corkscrews, etc.)
- Sharp shards
- Sewing machines, sewing needles, pins, knitting needles, scissors
- Nails, wires
- Pet’s teeth and claws
How to reduce puncture hazard in everyday life?
Always follow the instructions for the given device and utensil - each instruction manual shows how to handle the tool. Always work on a firm surface to prevent your hand from slipping. Make sure there is sufficient lighting and do not rush when working.
- Caution – always follow the rules
- Observe the protection zones when using the device
- Use of PPE
How does work equipment protect you against punctures?
How does work equipment protect you against punctures?
Anti-puncture shoes are equipped with a metal or non-metal insole. The metal insole will protect your foot regardless of the shape, size and sharpness of the pointed object, but due to the technological limits of shoe production, it does not cover the entire bottom surface of the shoe. The non-metallic insole is lighter and more flexible and protects the entire bottom surface of the shoe. However, its resistance depends on how sharp, large and shaped the pointed object is. Puncture-resistant shoes can be found in the product range of safety, protective and occupational shoes.
