A Pinch Point is produced when 2 objects come together and there is a possibility that a person could be caught or injured when coming in contact with that area. Pinch points commonly impact fingers/hands, but can impact any area of the body. The injury resulting from a pinch point could be as minor as a blister or as severe as an amputation or death.
Common Causes of Injuries from Pinch Points:
- Not paying attention to the location of hands and feet
- Walking or working in areas with mobile equipment and fixed structures
- Loose clothing, hair or jewelry getting caught in rotating parts or equipment
- Poor condition of equipment and guarding
- Dropping or carelessly handling materials or suspended loads
- Not using the proper safe work procedure
- Reaching into moving equipment and machinery
Safety Controls for Pinch Points:
- Machine guarding: Verify all guarding is in place and effective
- Personal Protective Equipment – Do not wear gloves around rotating equipment
- Pre-work inspection – Identify potential pinch points before starting work
- Stay in employee designated areas – Always ensure mobile equipment operators know your location
- Lockout/Tag out – Always make sure mobile equipment is de-energized before starting ant maintenance work
- Alertness – Drowsiness leads to inattentive work habits and shortcuts
For further information about this, please do not hesitate to contact: stefan.buys@franki.com
