Kontaktskada

Kontaktskada, a term commonly used in Swedish safety literature, refers to injury or damage resulting from contact between a person and hazardous sources, surfaces, or objects. It encompasses injuries caused by physical contact, heat, electricity, or chemicals.

Common forms include mechanical contact injuries (pinching, crushing, lacerations from moving parts or doors), thermal burns from hot surfaces, electrical injuries from conductive contact, and chemical burns from corrosive substances or splashes. Less common but possible are splash injuries, friction burns, and pressure injuries from sustained contact.

Causes and risk factors include inadequate guarding of machinery, insufficient lockout/tagout procedures, lack of personal protective equipment, improper handling of hot or chemical substances, wet or slippery surfaces, fatigue, and insufficient training.

Prevention involves engineering controls (machine guards, insulation, automatic shutoffs), administrative controls (safety procedures, risk assessments, training), and personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, insulated tools). Safe handling of chemicals, proper storage, and electrical safety practices are essential.

Management requires immediate response to minimize harm: remove the hazard, decontaminate if chemicals, cool or treat burns, seek medical evaluation for severe or uncertain injuries, and report incidents for safety follow-up.

In practice, kontaktskada is primarily discussed in occupational safety, industrial hygiene, and healthcare settings, and the term highlights a general concept of injury due to contact rather than a single disease. It reflects a risk-based approach to preventing harm from contact with hazardous agents or objects.