Toolbox Talk - Pinch Points and Hand Injuries
Roof work in Greensboro, North Carolina
Last week at Pine Energy, our toolbox talk was about pinch points and hand injuries.
A pinch point is any point where a body part can be caught between moving and stationary portions of equipment or material. These show up everywhere - when lifting materials, working with hand tools, moving equipment, and hooking up trailers, just to name a few examples. A hand injury can happen quickly.
Here's what we covered:
Know where your hands are at all times. Do not place hands where they cannot be seen. Pay close attention around any moving parts or any object with the potential to move.
Wear the right gloves for the task. Match the glove to the specific task. It’s important to remember that gloves reduce damage, but they do not eliminate risk.
Ensure proper lockout/tagout when working on equipment or machinery. Equipment must be properly locked out and tagged out before any work begins to prevent unexpected start-up. Block any equipment or parts where stored energy could be released.
Communicate with your crew. When working with others, make sure everyone knows when hands are clear of the line of fire before moving objects or starting equipment.
Hand injuries are common in construction. Most are preventable. Stay aware, wear the right PPE, and talk to each other before anything moves.