You've seen plenty of occupational injury stats, here is one that's startling: In 2012, workers suffered 186,830 nonfatal injuries to the hands and wrists serious enough to warrant days away from work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's 511 hand and wrist-related lost-time injuries every day of the year. This alone is enough to ensure you have a robust hand protection program.
Many of these serious hand and wrist injuries involve fractures, amputations, burns, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. But in 2014, BLS reports there were approximately 100,000 cuts, lacerations and punctures. These are the most likely everyday injuries to the hands- many times incurred by workers not wearing gloves. Many will require on-site first aid treatment and the worker goes back to the job. But think about it: Many more minor nicks, cuts and punctures to the hands will go unreported. Workers shake it off, maybe self-treat and put a bandage on the wound, thinking little of it.