How To Identify Hand Hazards?
Source: Marigold
HAND HAZARDS can
largely be group into 4 types: Chemical, Mechanical, Thermal and
Electrical. Chemical Hazards
The problem is that many common chemicals are deemed 'safe'. We are all familiar with washing uo liquid, household bleach and oven cleaners, white spirits and pesticide. Who think twice about washing the cars? But water strips the skin of its natural protective oil: not to mention the harmful chemicals present in some industrial products.Some chemicals are undisguised, with clearly defined dangers. Others are not so obvious and extreme care and vigilance are required. 
We are aware that our hands are at risk in the workplace from various dangerous chemical cocktails; some more obvious than others. Strong acids, as used in metal treatment, are clearly lethal but other latent dangers are caused by the combination of constituent parts. The other problem is that chemical contact doesn't always caused immediate harm, particularly with the hidden hazards. It is the cumulative exposure over months, even years, which caused irreversible damage. As we know, it is not unusual for workers to handle metalworking fluids for up to 15 years without apparent ill effect, but who later suffer chronic skin disease, including Cancer. Mechanical Hazards It is a hazard involving a cut, a crush or general abrasion. It can range from heavy production line machinery to needles used in healthcare. Sharp tools are an obvious threat, but there is also the danger of the razor sharp edges of raw material, like sheet metals in the press shop at a car manufacturing plant, or the polyurethane sheeting in packaging. Hazards that result in micro damage to the skin means absorption of substances into the skin that is barely noticeable, causing long term harm. Swaft produced in metalworking, particulates in coolants on machine tools and punctures from handling glass fibres are examples of potential entry routes into the skin. Thermal Hazards At home, in the kitchen, it is likely that we have experienced a burn or scald at some time. At work, our hand are expose to thermal hazards; fierce heats generated by molten glass and steel, hot steam to fire turbines and high temperature kilns in potteries. Extreme cold is just as hazardous, especially for those hands constantly dealing with frozen food, dipping in and out of freezers and cold stores, or handling liquid nitrogen. 
Hot summers and over-exposure to sun can lead to sunburn and skin cancer whereas exposure to cold winter winds and freezing temperatures dry out the natural oils that keep the skin supple, resulting in dry cracked skin, open to infection. Freezing temperatures can also numd the hands, reducing felxibility and grip which can lead to serious accidents. Electrical Hazards There is always the risk of contact and injury from electricity uesd to power lighting, heat and equipment at work. Contact can come through maintaining machinery and in the building industry, contact is particularly hazardous during construction or demolition.
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