Anthony LaFaziaCEO, Atlantic Training · CEO at Atlantic Training | EdTech & Safety Compliance Leader

Understanding Pinch Points: Essential Safety Definitions and Hand Injury Prevention

23 Mar 2026 · 2 min

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2:10

The presentation defines a pinch point as any location where two objects converge, creating a hazard that can trap any body part, though hands and fingers are most frequently affected. It outlines the injury spectrum—from minor cuts and bruises to severe outcomes such as amputations, broken bones, and death—emphasizing that pinch‑point incidents can occur anytime workers interact with moving machinery, mobile equipment, or poorly maintained guards. The speaker highlights that hand and finger injuries represent 22.88% of lost‑time incidents in oil‑and‑gas, with the majority occurring on the rig floor during drill‑pipe tripping, especially affecting floormen. To mitigate these risks, the industry adheres to OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910.212 Machine Guarding and 29 CFR 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout) and follows API Recommended Practice 54 and IADC safety guidelines, all aimed at protecting extremities from crush, pinch‑point, and line‑of‑fire hazards.

Chapters

Before we begin, it's important to understand exactly what a pinch point is and why it's dangerous. A pinch point is any place where two objects come together, and any body part can get caught. While fingers and hands are the most common body parts to be caught in pinch points, they can really affect any part of the body, which is why it's important to always be cautious and aware. Pinch points are common hazards that can cause everything from injury to amputation or even death. Minor pinch point injuries include cuts, bruises, contusions, and blisters, while more serious injuries may involve amputation, broken bones, and lacerations. A pinch point injury can happen at any time, especially when reaching into machinery or equipment with moving parts, working near mobile equipment, or when equipment or safety guards are not in good condition. When working around any of these dangers, it's important to be aware of where your hands and feet are at all times and make sure that clothing, jewelry, and hair don't get caught either. Because of the type of size of the equipment commonly used in the oil and gas manufacturing, Hand and finger injuries are the leading cause of injury in the industry, accounting for 22.88% of lost time incidents. Most of these injuries occur on the rig floor, with the floorman being the most injured worker. These injuries often occur while tripping drill pipe in and out of an oil well. To help prevent pinch point injuries, the oil and gas industry follows OSHA standards such as 29 CFR 1910.212 Machine Guarding. And 1910.147 Lockout Tagout, along with industry-specific best practices outlined in the American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice 54, API RP 54, and International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) safety guidelines. These standards and practices are designed to protect workers' hands and other extremities from crush, pinch point, and line of fire hazards.