Hand Tools

For millions of workers in the construction, maintenance, mining, forestry, transportation, agriculture and automotive industries, the effects of sustained on-the-job exposure to vibration – whether hand-arm or whole-body – may lead to various health problems.

Cut-off saws “make demanding cuts possible, but if not handled properly, they pose serious risks,” leaving “no room for error,” warns a recent fact sheet from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.

Does your job require you to work with sharp tools such as knives, scissors, box cutters or razor blades?

Circular saws can cause serious injuries if not operated safely.

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.