Hand: Second Leading Cause of Work-related Injury Also Most Avoidable
A leading company in the oil and gas industry, Texas-based Standard Energy Services (Standard E&S) offers particular focus on services for well rigs, frack tanks, and vacuum and hot oil trucks. Standard Energy Services operates based on its 3SQ (safety, service, satisfaction, and quality) mission, and stresses the importance of hand safety. The Centre de Controle in Paris reported in 2014 that hand injuries account for one-third of all work-related injuries, one-fifth of which result in permanent disability. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that common hand injuries accounted for over 4,000 job transfer cases in 2012. Although companies and its employees can take numerous measures to prevent hand injuries and ensure the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand injuries are the second leading cause of work-related injuries. Lack of or improper use of gloves is a primary risk factor, and the BLS found that 70 percent of workers with hand injuries did not wear gloves. In order to increase safety awareness and promote risk prevention, companies adhere to a series of guidelines and policies that cover appropriate work-wear, proper behavior, and various safety measures specific to each industry. To ensure the effectiveness of guidelines and safety protocols, companies may also perform a job safety analysis (JSA), which helps integrate approved safety and health principles and practices into job operations. Proper JSA conductions aim to identify potential hazards and offer recommendations for increased safety. Standard E&S encourages its employees to abide by JSA procedures and follow its S.A.F.E. Hands protocol. Each letter of the protocol stands for a different measure of hand safety: survey for hazards, be aware of your expected actions, become familiar with job duties, and use proper equipment.














