
Thousands of injuries happen each year in the workplace. Since many employees use their hands in some capacity in their job, many ways employees can injure their hands at work. Learn about these common workplace hand injuries.
Cuts and lacerations are often minor cuts and scratches in the skin’s surface. These are treated easily and heal quickly. But if tendons or nerves have been severed, these types of injuries can be a lot more serious and may last much longer.
To reduce these injuries, wear safety gloves that are cut resistant when working with machinery, tools, or sharp objects.
Puncture injuries can be caused by items like power tools, hand tools, and sharp objects. Punctures happen when the item is not used properly or isn’t maintained properly. Although they may seem minor, the risk for infection can be great, especially for deep punctures.
If you haven’t had your tetanus shot within the past 10 years, your should have one within 48 hours after the puncture wound happened.
Blisters and rashes on the skin happen because of being exposed to many items, like hazardous substances, detergents, and even soaps. Even though there are mild symptoms, dermatitis can occur, which is skin inflammation. This can be so bad that it makes working impossible.
There are three common types of burns that happen at work:
Burns can happen in many workplaces, but they vary in severity. There are four degrees of burns:
Sometimes a burn’s degree will change. This happens when the injury deepens and the damaged skin spreads. A burn can have many complications, like problems with bones and joints and infection. So a medical follow-up is suggested.
Many hand injuries also involve the person’s feet. When you trip over something or slip on a surface, you often put your hands down to break the fall, which can cause a hand or wrist strain or sprain. These injuries can take from two to three days for minor injuries to weeks or even months for more severe injuries
Blunt trauma often happens around moving equipment and machinery. Because of the weight and force involved, these injuries are often severe and include broken bones and fractures. Depending on the break’s severity, you might need to wear a cast or brace, or you may need surgery.
Amputations are the most severe type of injury, when someone loses part of all of a limb. These injuries aren’t as common, but they can happen. Amputations often happen around moving equipment or machinery and may involve the hand being crushed.
If you have been injured at work, you should have someone representing you. We have helped many employees just like you and can answer all of your questions. Let us know what you’re going through. Our consultation is free, and we are bilingual.
Craig W. Kidwell is the managing partner of Kidwell & Gallagher, Ltd., and exclusively represents injured workers in Nevada. Mr. Kidwell has been practicing workers’ compensation law in Nevada since 1999 and has acted as lead counsel on over 2,000 contested workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Kidwell represents injured workers in Nevada through all stages of Nevada’s complex worker’s compensation system. Craig regularly appears in all levels of Nevada’s administrative workers’ compensation system and has represented injured workers in Nevada’s districts and Supreme Court.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Managing Partner, Craig W. Kidwell who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.