Hand, Wrist and Finger Safety
Your hands—together with your wrists—help you do a remarkable variety of tasks. From playing the piano to cooking dinner or hammering a nail, your hands respond daily to various commands that ask for feats of strength and dexterity. To put it simply, your hands are literally extensions of your brain. More of your brain is reserved for controlling hand movements than for controlling any other part of your body. You use your hands all day, every day, both at home and at work. Yet in doing all of these things that they do every day, your hands and wrists are prone to accidents and injuries. Much of what we handle is heavy, awkward and dangerous, such as machines and equipment with heavy or fast-moving parts, sharp tools, corrosive materials, and pinch points. And then there are the kinds of injuries that result from awkward or repetitive motions. All of these injuries can be accompanied by initial pain, but may also require prolonged recovery, including long hours of physical rehabilitation. Fortunately, these injuries are preventable. But you do need to learn to recognize potential hand, wrist and finger hazards, as well as know the steps to take to avoid them.
Course Outline
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1. Introduction
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2. Common Injuries
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3. Identifying and Avoiding Hazards
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4. More Hazards
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5. Ergonomic Factors
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6. Gloves
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7. Summary
Learning Objectives
- Give examples of situations in your work that are potentially hazardous to the hands, wrists and fingers.
- Discuss how certain types of movements can cause ergonomic problems.
- Choose appropriate personal protective equipment for your hands, wrists and fingers.
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