Beware, hand injuries can jeopardize earning potential

An estimated one million workers across the country receive treatment for hand injuries each year. Any of those injuries can cause permanent damage, although strict compliance with safety standards could prevent them. Employers in Texas are responsible for keeping workers safe, and that includes cleaners, janitors and maintenance workers.

Appropriate protective gloves are essential to prevent the following injuries and conditions:

• Contact dermatitis: Exposure to soaps and various cleaning materials can cause a painful, burning and itching rash.
• Communicable diseases: Cleaning up after accidents and injuries puts the workers at risk of infectious or contagious diseases. Blood and body fluid could expose workers to communicable diseases and bloodborne pathogens.
• Chemical burns: Substances used for cleaning could contain bleach, ammonia, lye, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, petroleum distillates and other dangerous acids that could cause chemical burns. Furthermore, they could also expose workers to deadly fumes.
• Cold and heat: Working near welding units, open flames and running machinery put heat hazards. Freezers, coolers and refrigeration elements pose cold risks.
• Sharp objects: Maintenance and cleaning around equipment could expose workers to cutting surfaces, blades, needles and other sharp edges.

Employers must provide personal protective equipment, regardless of the industry. Besides, all workers must receive adequate safety training to prepare them for potential hazards and the steps required to mitigate them. When it comes to hand protection, workers must learn to choose the right gloves for the type of risks their tasks present. Victims of work-related injuries are entitled to financial relief to cover medical expenses and lost wages. An experienced Texas workers’ compensation attorney can navigate benefits claims on behalf of injured workers.