FACTS

1. The most common causes for puncture wounds include:

• stepping on a sharp object, such as a nail
• getting bitten
• falling onto something sharp

2. The following are typical hazards and possible causes of cuts and lacerations in the workplace:

• Improper training
• Lack of established safety procedures
• Employees rushing or taking shortcuts
• Failure to wear proper hand protection
• Missing or improperly adjusted guarding equipment

STATS

• 44 % of workplace hand injuries fall into Cuts, Lacerations, and Punctures, accounting for over 60,000 injuries in 2018 alone.
• Approximately 30 % of all workplace injuries involve cuts, and about 70 % of those injuries are to the hands or fingers.
• There were 420,870 of these cases requiring days away from work to recuperate.
• Workers aged 16 to 19 report the largest proportion of cuts and punctures.