There are a lot of safety risks in a shipyard. You are certainly aware of the big risks including falling or eye protection. But have you considered your workers’ hands? Their hands are the bread and butter of your shipbuilding operation, so you will do well to help protect them with a variety of safety procedures designed for exactly that purpose. Consider these ways you can eliminate safety hazards for your employees’ hands while working in your shipyard.
Wear proper personal protective equipment.
To avoid injury to the hand, your workers should always wear the right kind of protective equipment. This will be dependent on the specific job they’re doing, but gloves that help prevent deep cuts or other injuries are encouraged in many aspects of shipbuilding.
Avoid jewelry or loose clothing.
While you may want to assume that not wearing loose fitting sleeves or jewelry would be common sense when working in a shipyard, there are reasons someone might not consider the risks. Encourage your team to avoid any jewelry on their hands or wrists, including wedding rings.
Be aware of pinch points.
It’s easy when working in tight spaces or with sharp and heavy materials to encounter pinch points. Train your team to watch out for these risks and avoid them. This can be challenging when working in a compact ship area, but it is also necessary to avoid crushing or pinching injuries.
Increase safety around extreme temperatures.
Increased temperatures can come in many forms in your shipyard. While safety is important in hot summer weather conditions, it is also important when considering tools and materials. Extreme temperatures when working around metal can lead to a severe burn. Train your team to prevent these injuries.
Be aware of repetitive motion injuries.
Another concern for your team’s hand health is repetitive motion injuries. Conditions such as carpal tunnel are often associated with repetitive office jobs, such as typing, but manufacturing jobs can also increase the risk. You can help your workers avoid repetitive injuries by varying their tasks and rotating stations.
Avoid complacency in the workplace.
Finally, you want to be sure that neither you nor your team ever begins to feel complacent with safety in the workplace. This is when injuries happen the most because workers become overconfident in their ability to avoid dangerous situations. Make safety a top priority at all times.
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