Having dealt with several fluid power safety advocates over the years, I’ve come to understand the importance of prevention when it comes to injuries in the workplace. I remember watching a safety training video on fluid injection injuries, and there was nothing more horrifying or painful than what that injury looked like.
So it comes as no surprise that The International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) has issued Fluid Injection Injury Safety cards to all of its members, as well certified non-members who recertified in 2013. These cards contain information on obtaining five critical pieces of information for doctors and emergency medical technicians in treating fluid injection injuries.
“The IFPS believes that implementation of safe procedures is paramount in all fluid power systems, the electrical and electronic controls that guide them, and all associated technologies,” said Mark Perry, CFPHS, IFPS President. “Critical safety information can now be found in every IFPS study manual and is also available from the IFPS Web site.”
In addition to trying to prevent injuries by being trained on fluid power machinery and complying with the rules in place for safe operation of them, users should wear protective devices, such as face shields or safety goggles, ear plugs or covers, safety shoes, and gloves.
Also, it is important not to assume that all doctors know how to treat a fluid power injection injury. It is recommended that you know who and where a hand surgeon is that can properly treat such an injury, as quickly as possible. This is where the Safety Cards come into play. They provide you with five critical pieces of information that need to be communicated to the medical staff.
1. What type of fluid? (Provide the Material Safety Data Sheet)
2. What is the amount of fluid injected?
3. What was the pressure of fluid injected?
4. What is the spread of injected material
5. How much time has lapsed between injection & treatment?
For additional safety education, an archived Web presentation, “In the Line of Fire: Cause and Dangers of Fluid Injection Injuries” presented by Dan Helgerson, CFPAI, is available to the public as well as a four page safety document, “Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility.” Both of these safety resources are available from the IFPS Web site.
The International Fluid Power Society
www.ifps.org
