Hand tools

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Using a power tool? Working ergonomically will help prevent injuries to your wrist.

Commonly used by construction workers, cut-off saws “can be extremely dangerous because unguarded blades operate at very high speeds,” the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations cautions. The agency has created a list of do’s and don’ts.

Before you pick up that nail gun, do you know how to use it safely?

Raynaud’s phenomenon – sometimes called Raynaud’s syndrome or disease – is a disorder of blood circulation in the fingers and toes (and less commonly in the ears and nose). The cause: Several.

Construction workers: Do you often perform the same task at work over and over again? Do you experience pain afterward? What starts as a minor ache or pain can quickly turn into a more serious condition – a repetitive stress injury.

Workers, do you use the edge of the palm of your hand to grind, push or twist hard objects? If you do this often, you’re at risk of hypothenar hammer syndrome – a condition caused when blood flow to the fingers is reduced.

If you use hammers on the job, are you using them safely? If not, serious injuries can occur.

Cuts and lacerations are common workplace injuries. In fact, about 30% of all workplace injuries involve cuts or lacerations, and approximately 70% of those are to the hands or fingers, according to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

Powered hand drills can save workers a lot of time on the job, but caution is called for to avoid serious injuries.

If you’re not giving much thought to how you choose hand tools, you should. That’s the message the Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR), via its choosehandsafety.org website, wants you to keep in mind.