Another plea to use PPE

[weo]

Hello all. I hope that Spring is springing for y'all.

I just wanted to share a learning experience and "a-ha" moment today.

For the past week or so, a few of my fingers have been swelling and itching. Even to the point that it's been tough to get to sleep at night without taking some anti-inflammatories. I've been trying to figure out what the cause is. I thought that it was because I did some clearing of blackberries last week when we had nice weather and got stuck a couple of times. But it's lasted longer than in the past (usually just the rest of the day), so I just thought I was getting more sensitive as I get older. In the past couple of hours they've been really itchy and red and I haven't done any yard work for the past week because we're back to our normal 40's and rain.

So what's the cause and "a-ha" moment you ask? Well, since I've been unemployed, I've had a lot more time to spend in my shop finishing up knives, and today spent the day finally cutting up into scales and sanding all the stabilized blocks I've been accumulating over the past year or so. And although I am in the habit of wearing glasses, hearing protection and a respirator, I am not in the habit of wearing gloves. I can give you a number of arguments why, from not being able to feel the work piece as well, never having an issue before, not remembering to put them on to give a few. But I think it's obvious to me that my fingers are getting irritated by the epoxy dust from cutting and sanding.

So please take all the warnings you read seriously and wear ALL the PPE available, including nitrile or latex gloves. Life will be much more pleasant, trust me (or US).

as always
peace and love
billyO

 

[weo]

Edit: I've seen arguments that it's a bad idea to wear gloves around spinning power equipment, and although I agree with leather or cloth gloves, the nitrile, latex or thin rubber gloves would tear instead of grabbing you.

 

[Mahoney]

It might not just be the epoxy, many woods, i.e. Cocobolo, can cause allergies or "poison ivy" reactions. Even if you are not cutting that particular type of wood now, if you once did and the dust is still in the work area it can still cause reactions. Research the woods you are working with, wear PPE, and clean up afterwards.

 

[weo]

Good point, thanks. All it was for me, though was maple, so I'm pretty sure it was the stabilization.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

While it could be a reaction to the chemicals, once cured stabilizing resins and epoxies are much less of a problem. I agree that if you are having issues, wearing nitrile gloves is a good idea.

Also consider the constant washing of the hands ( soap type) and if you are using any solvents. Exposures that are no trouble in an occasional use may be a problem when done over and over again for hours.

Another source of what it could be is the constant pressure of sanding on your hands and fingertips. My hands swell after hours of hand sanding. They also hurt for days if I over-do it.

Also, positional compression on the nerves at the spine, shoulder, elbow, and wrist all can cause tingling and numbness ( and swelling) in the hands and fingers. Use good posture and take regular stretching breaks when doing work. This is especially important when sitting and hunched over ... as in sanding a knife blade or handle. Jewelers and watchmakers get serious nerve problems buy sitting and working hunched over too long.

 

[weo]

All good points Stacy, but I'm 99.999...% positive it was the prolonged exposure without nitrile/latex/rubber gloves. It was all my fingers and started with my 5th digits (pinky's) and coupled with inflammation and severe itching..

Also, good to mention the posture for folks to consider. And if anyone would like some further education and exercises/postural corrections to fix/help prevent the above, I've been a physical therapist for the past 22 years.

as always
peace and love
billyO

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

As a therapist, you know that loss of feeling in the 5th finger ( pinky) is the classic symptom of ulnar nerve compression in either the elbow or wrist. As you age, the amount of tissue that protects the nerves also diminishes. Older people often wake up with no feeling in their little finger ( or whole hand) from sleeping on their side and compressing the nerve at the shoulder, or by placing the hand under their cheek or pillow, and thus folding the arm tight at the elbow.

I had to have an ulnar transposition surgery to correct the damage from the compression, but it was too late to completely repair all the damage. I have a permanently numb pinky.

 

[weo]

Hi Stacy, sorry to hear about the unsuccessful surgery.

On an unrelated note, I hope my replies don't sound snippy, I just don't want anyone to read...Oh, that's not me, my posture is good, etc.
~billyO