Is Your Jewelry Putting You at Risk for These 5 Workplace Hazards?

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Jewelry looks great at home.

But in the workplace? It’s a dangerous risk to take.

You might not know this—I know I didn’t—but rings, earrings, and necklaces are actually a major hazard risk at work.

Here are the five hazards you need to be aware of.

Jewelry looks great at home.

But in the workplace? It’s a dangerous risk to take.

You might not know this—I know I didn’t—but rings, earrings, and necklaces are actually a major hazard risk at work.

Here are the five hazards you need to be aware of.

Hazard #1—Ring avulsion

Many people heard of this for the first time back in 2015, when late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon spent 10 days in the intensive care unit after an injury.

Ring avulsion happens when a ring—usually a wedding ring—gets caught on something and tears the finger.

There are examples of it happening at work, in the military, and even at home.

In fact, in Jimmy Fallon’s case, the injury happened when he tripped in the kitchen and grabbed a countertop to catch his fall.

The severity of the injury depends on what the ring is caught on and the force that’s applied.

Ring avulsion can lead to anything from a dislocated joint to a complete loss of your finger.

Source: Jimmy Fallon via Twitter

Source:Jimmy Fallon via Twitter

Many people heard of this for the first time back in 2015, when late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon spent10 days in the intensive care unit after an injury.

Ring avulsionhappens when a ring—usually a wedding ring—gets caught on something and tears the finger.

There are examples of it happening at work, in the military, and even at home. In fact, in Jimmy Fallon’s case, the injury happened when he tripped in the kitchen and grabbed a countertop to catch his fall. The severity of the injury depends on what the ring is caught on and the force that’s applied. Ring avulsion can lead to anything from a dislocated joint to a complete loss of your finger.

Hazard #2—Catching in machinery

If you work near machinery, you probably already know that loose clothing and long hair can be risky.

But you also need to beware of necklaces, bracelets, and dangling earrings. If there’s heavy machinery where you work—even if you’re only in contact with it briefly—your jewelry can easily get caught and cause severe damage.

Source: Alex Freeman from Pixabay

People have hadearrings torn out of their ears, among other injuries. This solution is simple—don’t wear dangling jewelry around machinery.

Source: Alex Freeman from Pixabay

If you work near machinery, you probably already know that loose clothing and long hair can be risky.

People have had earrings torn out of their ears, among other injuries. This solution is simple—don’t wear dangling jewelry around machinery.

Hazard #3—Electrical currents

It’s so common for us to wear jewelry, we often forget about the chemical properties in the metals they’re made of. For all types of electrified machines and devices, there’s a serious risk ofelectricity being conductedthrough any metal jewelry you wear. Let’s say a wire has frayed without your knowledge, letting an electrical current come into contact with a protective metal plate.

Source:Pixabay

You’re careful to use gloves and insulated tools while making any repairs, but your necklace taps the plate and you’re instantly hit with voltage to your neck.

What makes it worse is that the metals used in jewelry are excellent conductors of electricity.

Gold, for example, is used in the circuit boards of nearly every electronic devicedue to its conductivity.

In particular, avoid silver, copper, and gold, as they’re three of the most conductive metals on earth.

Source:Pixabay

It’s so common for us to wear jewelry, we often forget about the chemical properties in the metals they’re made of.

For all types of electrified machines and devices, there’s a serious risk of electricity being conductedthrough any metal jewelry you wear.

Let’s say a wire has frayed without your knowledge, letting an electrical current come into contact with a protective metal plate.

You’re careful to use gloves and insulated tools while making any repairs, but your necklace taps the plate and you’re instantly hit with voltage to your neck.

What makes it worse is that the metals used in jewelry are excellent conductors of electricity.

Gold, for example, is used in the circuit boards of nearly every electronic devicedue to its conductivity.

In particular, avoid silver, copper, and gold, as they’re three of the most conductive metals on earth.

Hazard #4—Burning and freezing

One of the most amazing features of our bodies is our ability to maintain a comfortable temperature. Being able to withstand a broad range of temperatures might not seem all that amazing until you consider the alternative—zero temperature control. That’s exactly what happens with the metals in our jewelry. Problems arise when our jewelry heats up or cools down before our hands do.

Because of metal’s thermal conduction properties

Source: Science in HD on Unsplash

A piece of jewelry can grow much hotter or colder than we’d expect.

If you have to escape a workplace fire, for example, jewelry can conduct enough heat from the environment to cause burns.

But it isn’t just heat that poses a potential hazard.

If you work in an industry that uses cryofreezing, the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety recommends against wearing jewelry or watches.

The reason is that jewelry splashed by a cryogen can freeze immediately and attach to the skin.

While not caused by heat, chemical burns can also be made worse with jewelry.

Chemicals can be trapped underneath rings or watches, causing more serious damage due to extended exposure.

Source: Science in HD on Unsplash

One of the most amazing features of our bodies is our ability to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Being able to withstand a broad range of temperatures might not seem all that amazing until you consider the alternative—zero temperature control. That’s exactly what happens with the metals in our jewelry.

Problems arise when our jewelry heats up or cools down before our hands do. Because of metal’s thermal conduction properties, a piece of jewelry can grow much hotter or colder than we’d expect.

If you have to escape a workplace fire, for example, jewelry can conduct enough heat from the environment to cause burns.

But it isn’t just heat that poses a potential hazard.

If you work in an industry that uses cryofreezing, the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety recommends against wearing jewelry or watches.

The reason is that jewelry splashed by a cryogen can freeze immediately and attach to the skin.

While not caused by heat, chemical burns can also be made worse with jewelry. Chemicals can be trapped underneath rings or watches, causing more serious damage due to extended exposure.

5. A diamond’s best friend

The final and perhaps most common problem with jewelry in the workplace is sanitation. Jewelry tends to collect dirt, dead skin cells, and the germs that come with them. Worse, most of us don’t do a good job cleaning our jewelry. (The cliché of forgetting your ring at the sink only happens because we don’t wash it, putting a dirty ring back on clean hands!)

For most of us, this isn’t a major risk, as we have immune systems that can easily defend against this type of regular household germs. But if you work in medicine, elderly care, child care, or a host of other industries, this isn’t the case.

You’re constantly in contact with people with compromised immune systems. Another problem is the reverse effect—jewelry can track germs from the workplace to the home.

If you work in a kitchen, for example, harmful bacteria like E. coli or salmonella can easily hitch a ride on your hands. And if you have on a ring or bracelet or touch jewelry before washing off all the germs, they can easily find their way back home.

Source: Jeff Siepmanon Unsplash

The final and perhaps most common problem with jewelry in the workplace is sanitation.

Jewelry tends to collect dirt, dead skin cells, and the germs that come with them. Worse, most of us don’t do a good job cleaning our jewelry.

(The cliché of forgetting your ring at the sink only happens because we don’t wash it, putting a dirty ring back on clean hands!)

For most of us, this isn’t a major risk, as we have immune systems that can easily defend against this type of regular household germs.

But if you work in medicine, elderly care, child care, or a host of other industries, this isn’t the case. You’re constantly in contact with people with compromised immune systems.

Another problem is the reverse effect—jewelry can track germs from the workplace to the home.

If you work in a kitchen, for example, harmful bacteria like E. coli or salmonella can easily hitch a ride on your hands.

And if you have on a ring or bracelet or touch jewelry before washing off all the germs, they can easily find their way back home.

What to do about workplace hazards

The single best piece of advice for wearing jewelry in the workplace is to take it off before you start work. Even simple incidents can result in serious injuries.

You can store jewelry in a locker, at your desk, in your pocket, or just leave it at home.

That said, there are other steps you can take if you’d like to wear a signature piece—a wedding ring, for example—on the worksite.

The first option is to buy an alternative piece you can wear to work. One option is an affordable replacement you can take on and off worry-free as your work situation permits.

Another solution is buying a silicone ring. These are made from a firm-yet-flexible compound that will break if it snags.

To prevent electric shocks, you can put gloves over jewelry or cover them with an insulating material like tape.

Finally, clean your jewelry regularly. The best cleaning procedure depends on the materials in the piece, but dish detergent is a gentle soap that shouldn’t cause damage.

When you store jewelry, quickly dry it and keep it in a moisture-free place to prevent bacteria growth. (You can keep a few silica packs in your jewelry box.)

Either way, stay safe.