‘Hands-Off’ to Avoid Injuries Some of the ways we keep our hands safe. With an organizational focus on workplace safety, BlueScope Distribution has a wide range of safety procedures in place that help protect the wellbeing of our people. While they’ve been developed to meet the specific requirements of BlueScope Distribution’s operational sites, many of the broader principles are relevant across a range of other workplaces and will be of benefit to our readers. Never touch suspended loads and lifting gear under tension Instead, manoevre loads using no-touch tools, tag lines or protected hand tools. Never place hands in the line of fire where they can be hit by striking tools Ensure you use the right tool for the task, use tool hold extensions and protect your hands from the strike. Never place hands in the line of fire where they can be pinched or crushed • Stay clear of nip points, moving machinery and equipment with the potential to release stored energy. • When maneuvering bins/trolleys/platforms, keep hands clear of created pinch points. • Only touch heavy moving objects using the protected hand holds. Never use bare hands to handle objects with sharp edges or make contact with hot materials or chemicals • Use tools where possible, otherwise wear appropriate gloves for the task. • Remember, PPE is the last line of defence, so handle these objects as if the hands were unprotected. Never use hands to pick-up heavy chain sets (lifting link >5kg, or where the portion of the chain set being lifted is >15kg) to place on or off crane hooks • Use a dedicated storage rack to attach/detach the chain set to the crane hook. • If a chain set is not in a rack, you must use a documented and approved lifting method.