Degloving accidents at work are commonly caused by machinery and equipment incidents.
Limbs or other body parts may become stuck in or pushed by machinery. The result may be catastrophic injury, including amputation and disfigurement.
The experienced Jacksonville workers’ compensation lawyers at Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys explain how to deal with a degloving injury at work and what you need to know.
What Is a Degloving Injury?
A degloving injury is trauma to the body in which the skin is pulled away from internal body tissue, as if taking off a glove. Internal tissue may be exposed, including muscle, tendons, and bones.
Body parts affected
- Fingers
- Hands
- Toes
- Feet
- Hips
- Face
- Arms
Degloving accidents are most common in the fingers and hands. But they can occur elsewhere on the body, including the hips and lower limbs.
Open vs. closed degloving injury
A degloving injury may be open, with internal tissue exposed. However, a closed degloving injury can also occur, where the skin is still intact but ripped away from internal tissue.
Complications
Regardless of the degloving cause, any degloving injury is probably very serious. The person will likely experience significant pain, and amputation is often necessary. In addition, blood loss, nerve damage, disfigurement, and infection are common complications.
Treatment
Degloving injury may require surgery, skin grafting, or amputation. Mild cases may be treated with compression, bandages, and physical therapy. Significant medical intervention is often necessary, and multiple surgeries may be needed.
How do degloving accidents typically occur?
Degloving accidents typically result from a pulling or tearing motion. The limb is pulled in one direction with force, holding the body still, or pulling in the other direction.
An example of a degloving accident is where a finger gets stuck in a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt pulls the finger, but the person is stationary. When the conveyor belt pulls the hand too far, degloving injury may occur.
Degloving Causes in the Workplace
- Machinery—Caught between and stuck between accidents involving conveyor belts, rollers, presses, and other heavy machinery
- Tools—Misuse, lack of skill, and malfunction
- Pinch points—When using equipment or performing operations
- Animal attacks—A bite or pull involving a dog or other animal
- Motor vehicle accidents—If the body becomes stuck or pulled
- Pedestrian accident—When a vehicle rolls over a person or throws the person to the ground
- Falls or drops from elevated heights—A limb can get stuck as a person falls or purposefully descends from an elevated height
- Chemicals—Contact with a harmful chemical that strips the skin
- Caught objects—A ring, necklace, ID tag, or loose item becomes stuck and pulls the body
Industries Where Degloving Accidents Are Most Common
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Agriculture
- Transportation
- Mining
- Emergency services
- Forestry
- Maritime, fishing
- Aviation
- Garbage collecting
- Print and press operation
- Shipping
- Mechanics, automotive repair
Unsafe Equipment and Machinery Malfunctions
Unsafe equipment can cause or contribute to a degloving injury for a variety of reasons.
- Poor equipment design—Equipment may be designed in a way that is likely to result in injury.
- Manufacturing defect—An error in manufacturing may make a specific piece of machinery or equipment unsafe.
- Used inappropriately—When equipment is not used as intended, a degloving injury may occur.
- Improper spacing—When machinery is used with inadequate space, the result may be a degloving injury.
- Inadequate training or supervision—Failing to adequately train workers to use equipment may result in degloving.
- Lack of inspection or routine maintenance—Neglecting routine inspections and maintenance may cause equipment failure.
- Using when it should be tagged out of service—Using a piece of equipment despite signs of a problem may result in injury.
- Too much activity or overload—Doing too much with a piece of machinery can result in harm.
- Lack of personal protective equipment—Using equipment without proper PPE can cause an injury to occur.
- Inadequate dress—Failing to remove dangling objects or jewelry can result in a limb becoming stuck and degloving injury.
How Lack of Safety Training Contributes to Severe Injuries
In safe operation
When there is a lack of safety training, a person may not know how to use the equipment properly. They may try to do things that the equipment can’t do safely. The worker may not appreciate the dangers if they don’t know how to use the equipment correctly.
In safety culture
Safety training promotes a culture of safety. Workers are taught that it’s important to follow procedures. They’re taught to stop and adjust when there is danger. Failing to conduct adequate safety training and otherwise failing to promote a culture of safety can result in shortcuts or skipping steps that are important to injury prevention.
In emergency response procedures
When safety training is inadequate, a person may not know emergency response procedures. They must be trained in how to stop the machine in the event of an emergency, how to call for help, and what to do if an injury occurs. A lack of preparedness can result in a severe injury or make an incident more serious.
Preventative Measures To Avoid Degloving Accidents
- Having situational awareness
- Allowing only qualified and approved workers to use machinery
- Providing adequate training and supervision
- Having enough workers but not crowding a work area
- Thoughtfully spacing operations
- Ensuring good lighting
- Keeping the workspace free of debris
- Making sure that workers are not overly time pressured
- Providing adequate personal protective equipment
- Requiring workers to use PPE and follow safety procedures
- Having automatic stops when faults are detected
- Holding routine inspection and maintenance
- Hiring qualified workers
Preventative measures to avoid degloving accidents vary based on the industry and type of work performed.
What To Do After a Degloving Injury at Work
Most degloving injuries are extremely serious, so call 911. Seek emergency medical response without delay. If a limb has been severed, administer first aid, most likely applying direct pressure, elevating the limb, and protecting the severed limb.
Follow the 911 operator or emergency responder instructions until help can arrive.
Report the accident and injury to the employer as soon as possible.
Contact an Experienced Jacksonville Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Have you suffered a degloving injury at work? Whether the cause of your injury is common or unusual, you may deserve compensation. Contact Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, to talk to a lawyer.
