26 Nov Why Hinge Side Injuries Are the Most Dangerous – and How Finger Guards Stop Them
Whether it’s the doors fitted throughout your home, the ones you encounter while navigating your workplace, or those located in the most hazardous areas of school, assessing the associated risk is a must. Doors are after all highly dangerous if not properly managed through the necessary design and safety measures, with entrapment leading to serious injuries and even lifelong damage.
Entrapment at the hinge side of the door is particularly hazardous. Here we explore why and how the use of finger guards could stop hinge side injuries in their tracks.
What exactly is a hinge side injury?
A hinge side injury occurs when an individual traps their fingers or hands between the door and frame. This is the area where you can visibly see the hinges, with the gap becoming a danger zone as the door shuts.
Why are hinge side injuries so hazardous?
The hinge side is a particularly powerful pinch point, especially with heavy or self-closing doors. Here The Silver Lining explains exactly how much pressure fingers are subjected to at the hinge side by a closing door:
“Automatic door closers that slow down or prevent slammed doors can help prevent injuries around the doorknob side of the door, but most serious finger injuries take place at the hinge side of the door. As the door closes, the pressure exerted at the hinge area of a door can reach as much as 40 tons – or 80,000 lbs – per square inch!”
Hinge side injuries can cause anything from minor bruising and cuts to severe crush injuries and fractures. In some extreme cases, the fingers may have to be amputated following hinge side entrapment.
Some individuals are more at risk than others when it comes to hinge side injuries. They’re particularly commonplace amongst young children who may not recognise the dangers of doors for example. Everyone is at risk however, with people of all ages vulnerable in workplaces or public buildings where doors are used frequently and the necessary safety precautions have not been taken.
How can you minimise the risk of hinge side injuries?
It’s easier than you think to minimise the risk of door hinge side injuries. Regardless of the setting, safety solutions like hinge protectors provide the answer. Finger guards essentially cover the gap between the door and the frame to stop fingers from getting caught, preventing serious hinge side injuries, compliance failures and injury-related claims.
The use of finger guards gives employers or building owners like you the chance to create safe, more inclusive environments for workers and visitors, with a thoughtful design addition that’s effective and cost efficient.
Where can I find the finger guards that can help?
Our complete door finger protection pack goes one step further than most hinge protectors to prevent finger trapping on both sides of a conventional standard door frame.
Featuring the Fingersafe® Mark 1A for the push side and the Fingersafe® Mark 1B for the pull hinge pin side, this door safety pack shields and safeguards against serious injury every time. It’s already a staple throughout countless settings, including workplaces, restaurants, fast food outlets, schools and other educational facilities.
For further information about our complete door finger protection pack and wider range of Fingersafe® products, take a look at our latest brochure.
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