Beware Of Entanglement with Machinery

"Man's scalp ripped off in machinery accident." "Operator loses scalp to rotating shaft." "Woman's finger amputated by bench mounted drill." These are all recently recorded workplace accidents. Hazards of entanglement are equally present when working with power tools at home.

 

Quicker than you can hit an emergency stop button, your long hair or jewelry can become entangled in moving machinery - with devastating results. Hair, jewelry and even loose clothing are major hazards around powered equipment. Just wearing a hardhat without tying back long hair is not enough protection from spinning or rotating parts. Many accidents have occurred when shoulder-length hair, worn in pony-tail fashion under a hardhat, has swung out and become entangled in machinery.

So how can you avoid these accidents?

• Be aware of the dangers. Even air currents, created by the rapidly moving parts, can cause the initial contact between the equipment and your hair, neck chains or clothing.

• Before you start work, remove anything which could become entangled. This includes scarves, chains, neckties and even sweaters with loose sleeves.

 

• If you have long hair, wear the appropriate head gear to restrain it. In some jobs this may include a hairnet cap, headband with a hairnet or hair covers made of cotton, paper, synthetic fibers or plastic.

 

• Removing wedding rings, wrist watches and bracelets may be required. You can always put them back on again after work.

 

• Wear the appropriate clothing for the job. Avoid wearing articles with torn pockets, frayed cuffs, billowy sleeves or legs and loose belts.

• Button your shirt cuffs and tuck in your shirt tails.

 

• Restrain your hair, remove your jewelry and refrain from wearing loose clothing around moving machinery. It will save your life.

Be vigilant to the dangers of working around powered machimery when you have any loose hair, jewelry, or clothing that could get snagged in the machinery and drag you into the damaging moving parts - all in a blink of an eye.