Safety Tip of the Week – Caught or Crushed Injuries

Each year, workers suffer approximately 125,000 caught or crushed-by injuries that occur when body parts get caught between two objects or entangled with machinery.

Common causes of crushing hazards:

• Not paying attention to the location of hands and feet;
• Walking or working in areas with mobile equipment and fixed structures;
• Loose clothing, hair, or jewelry getting caught in rotating parts or equipment;
• Poor condition of equipment and guarding;
• Dropping or carelessly handling materials or suspended loads;
• Not using the proper work procedures or tools; and
• Reaching into moving equipment and machinery.

Controlling crushing hazards:

• Machine guarding: Verify all guarding is in place and effective.
• Personal Protective Equipment: Heavy-duty leather gloves, metacarpal guards, forearm guards, etc. Note: Do not wear gloves around rotating machinery.
• Pre-work inspection: Identify potential pinch points before starting work.
• Stay in employee designated areas: Always make sure mobile equipment operators know your location.
• Lockout/Tagout: Always verify the equipment is de-energized before starting any maintenance work.
• Alertness: Drowsiness leads to inattentive work habits and shortcuts.
• Operating manuals and work procedures: Always review these before starting work; pinch points may also be identified in these documents.

SAFETY IS A STATE OF MIND…ACCIDENTS ARE AN ABSENCE OF MIND!!