Thousands of workers suffer yearly from preventable injuries and accidents at work. Some of the most common workplace injuries are cuts and lacerations. In fact, statistics reveal that cuts or lacerations comprise approximately 30% of all workplace injuries, and 83% of those are hand lacerations. In 2020, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics recorded 89,730 cases of cuts, lacerations, or punctures from private industries; 15,380 of such cases were from manufacturing companies alone.
This clearly indicates that cuts and lacerations are perennially common hand injuries at work. However, some of them are considered minor injuries, only that most of the time, they are left unreported. Under Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards, employers must only report cuts or lacerations if the worker's wound requires more than first-aid attention.
Cut and laceration hazards may not be life-threatening at all, but there are still reasons why employers should advocate and teach workers the prevention of such injuries. So in this article, we will highlight significant points concerning these accidents to increase awareness and adoption of cut and laceration prevention tips and strategies.
What Is the Difference Between Cuts or Lacerations and Puncture Wounds?
Workplace cuts or lacerations and puncture wounds both indicate skin wounds and are usually caused by sharp materials, such as knives or shards of glass. However, the major difference between the two is that a cut or laceration refers to a minor cut or tearing on the skin, while a puncture wound refers to a narrower and deeper cut that poses more health risks.
With a cut, the skin is wounded, but the bleeding can be stopped by applying some pressure, cleaning the wound, and applying a bandage and some antibacterial ointment. Most cuts are treatable with a first-aid kit only.
Punctures, however, are more serious. In severe cases, it is usually a deeper wound cutting deep into the ligaments and tendons. Puncture wounds require immediate medical attention and, most of the time, stitches or sutures.
Common Hazards That Cause Cuts and Lacerations in the Workplace
Preventing cuts and lacerations in the workplace requires understanding why these usually happen, which can be because of several possible reasons. Here are some of the most typical reasons for these injuries:
- Improper or insufficient safety training classes for tools, machinery, and workplace safety procedures
- Lack of established safety procedures
- Inadequate set-up or unorganized workplace
- Employees working in a hurry and taking shortcuts or not following safety procedures
- Improper use of tools or equipment or use of inappropriate tools for the job
- Failure to wear proper personal protective equipment, such as gloves
- Improper maintenance and storage of knives, blades, or any sharp objects
- Employee overextension of work or fatigue
- Work distractions
- Improper handling of sharp objects or materials such as glass or sheet metal
- Employees leave sharp materials unattended, such as knives, cutters, screwdrivers, etc.
- Use of machinery with cutting blades, pinch points, rotating parts, lathes, and any other sharp parts
Cost of Cuts and Lacerations
It is a fact that workplace accidents and injuries, no matter how minor, can be costly to companies. Cuts and lacerations may seem the most trivial form of workplace casualty, but government regulations consider this as part of strict safety standards. According to OSHA, the employer should pay around $45,931 per laceration for direct and indirect costs.
The direct cost of workplace laceration would include healthcare compensation ranging from $300 - $70,000 or more, depending on the type of medical care needed. Aside from that, there are also ambulance bills and EMT treatment, and workers' compensation of around $6,000 for hand injury claims and about $7,500 for lost time workers' compensation claims.
Moreover, there are also indirect costs that employers should keep in mind:
- Salary paid to the injured worker that is not covered by compensation
- Administrative time spent by supervisors following accidents
- Employee retraining
- Replacement costs
- Loss of morale after an injury
- Loss of productivity related to new employee learning and adjustment
- Accommodation of injured workers
The figures above clearly show that lacerations can indeed cost the fortunes, morale, and productivity of companies. Furthermore, the injured individual can be sidelined for days, weeks, or even permanently. And although it may seem easy to propose that companies can look for a replacement, it is, in fact, a challenging process as it requires significant time and resources to retrain new employees for their roles and responsibilities. That means days lost, which is one of the major contributing factors to higher indirect costs. This can also lead to equipment downtime, interrupted schedules, and, worse, tarnished company image. That is why safety authorities are implementing company procedures and policies to maximize safety and reduce the risk for both employees and employers.
Employer Intervention to Prevent Cut and Laceration Hazards
1. Maintain Sharp Tools in Proper Condition
Workplace tools and equipment should undergo proper maintenance to ensure that they can serve their purpose effectively. Keep cutting tools and blades sharp so workers can get the job done without the need for extra effort. Ensure that blades are firmly in place and that there are no loose or rattled parts. Furthermore, all sharp tools should have machine guarding to protect workers from accidental contact or injury. Employers could also consider investing in advanced tools, such as self retracting cutting blades.
To ensure tools are in good condition:
- Conduct regular tool checking
- Consider having a checklist of all cutting tools and taking time for weekly or monthly maintenance reviews
- Stock replacement blades and cutting tools for equipment that are in heavy demand
- Remove all damaged tools or tag them with "Do Not Use"
This way, workers will not be tempted to use dull blades and broken tools.
2. Use the Correct Tools for Each Task
Each tool has its proper use, and each task has its proper tool. Ensure to educate and remind workers to use appropriate tools for every task.
3. Provide PPEs That Fit and Are in Tip-Top Condition
PPE is the last line of defense for accident prevention, so it is crucial to make it available and mandatory. PPE also needs to be in good working condition, and it needs to fit well. The two most necessary PPE for laceration prevention are gloves and eye protection. Workers who often use cutting tools should have their own PPE. In case workers share PPE, ensure that there are sizes that everyone can fit. Another thing, make sure your workers are using the appropriate gloves for specific jobs since gloves offer different levels of cut protection.
Providing, however, is sometimes not enough. Some workers need constant reminders. Build a safety culture within the workplace and regularly remind workers to check out all their PPE before starting work to ensure there is no damage, wear, or excessive soiling. Point out that their gear is for their own safety, so they should never cut off glove fingertips, remove cut-resistant liners or modify their PPE in any other way.
4. Provide Comprehensive Free Safety Training Resources
Promoting safety requires the continuous cultivation of safety standards both for management and workers. Training is critical, and it’s crucial for workers to be reminded on a regular basis that safety is the highest priority and it must come first. Employers should not allow workers to start work unless they fully understand safety procedures. There should be rigorous enforcement of protocols and a no-tolerance policy.
It might be expected for some workers to become complacent when they've been doing the same job for a long time. Thus, it is critical to regularly remind workers about the need to follow safety protocols at all times. Employers can conduct short refreshers and random inspections to ensure safety protocols are being followed.
5. Promote "Staying Aware to Stay Safe"
One of the significant contributors to many injuries at work is being complacent and lacking awareness. This often happens when workers are stressed, distracted, tired, or in a rush. Not paying attention can put the user and those nearby in danger, especially if a worker uses a cutting tool.
Promoting awareness is a relevant way of protecting the worker and his/her coworker. When conducting safety training, remind workers to take a beat, look around and make sure everything is in proper condition before using any dangerous tool. As much as possible, minimize the number of moving pieces every time you cut something, and permanently stabilize materials being cut or drilled. Other safety tips include using clamps, push sticks, saw horses, vices, tables, and extensive work surfaces for extra safety. It's also essential to give short breaks to workers to prevent overfatigue.
6. Keep the Work Area Clean and Organized
A messy and cluttered workplace can sometimes get tools lost. With this, lacerations sometimes occur due to misstepping near sharp equipment or accidental contact when looking around for something in a mess. Minimize cuts by encouraging workers to clean up after themselves and return tools to their rightful places on a regular basis. Have specific safe storage for sharp tools and objects, and make sure to store them safely when not in use.
To Sum It Up...
Cuts and lacerations are frequently dismissed as minor injuries by both employers and workers due to their prevalence. However, waiting for more severe harm to occur before implementing preventive measures is a terrible idea. The negative impact of cuts and lacerations on a company can result in both direct and indirect costs. These injuries, like any other workplace injury, can be severe, and their prevention is as crucial as any other safety program.
While we can't prevent every cut or injury, having a proactive approach to safety can make the workplace safer for every worker. This starts with proper training, education, and implementation. It is the responsibility of both employers and employees to work hand in hand to prevent such injuries. This way, employers can boost workers’ morale, increase productivity, reduce costs, and minimize workplace injuries.