Corporate Standard

Corporate Hands-Off & No-Touch
Operations Standard (HONT)

Engineering the Hand Out of the Hazard

Version 1.0  |  Corporate Standard  |  For Internal Adoption

Guidebook for Corporate Adoption

This document is designed as a ready-to-use framework for organisations to draft, adopt, and implement a Corporate Hands-Off & No-Touch Operations Standard (HONT).

It can be directly adapted into internal policies, operating procedures, and site-level safety systems.

01
Standard Declaration

The organisation adopts Hands-Off & No-Touch (HONT) as a mandatory operating standard across all sites.

This standard eliminates hand exposure by:

  • Replacing the hand with engineered tools
  • Removing hand contact from high-risk tasks
  • Embedding distance and control into the process
Principle
The hand is not a control. The tool is the control.
02
Objective

To achieve Zero Hand Exposure in all operational tasks involving:

  • Suspended loads
  • Pinch points
  • Impact zones
  • Moving or energised systems
  • Material positioning and alignment
03
Scope

This standard applies to:

  • All employees, contractors, and third-party personnel
  • Plants
  • Warehouses
  • Yards
  • Ports
  • Field operations
Critical Rule
No task is exempt.
04
Core Operating Rule
Critical Rule
If the hand is required inside the hazard zone, the task is not yet engineered.

The following are prohibited:

Prohibited Actions
  • Guiding loads by hand
  • Reaching into gaps
  • Holding during impact
  • Manual alignment in risk zones
05
Mandatory Control Structure
5.1 — Replace → Don't Protect
  • PPE protects the hand
  • HONT removes the hand
Mandatory Controls
Engineering controls are mandatory, not optional.
5.2 — Distance is Designed, Not Maintained
  • Distance must be built into the task using tools
  • Human discipline is not relied upon as the primary control
5.3 — Final Positioning = Highest Risk
  • Most hand injuries occur during final alignment
  • This phase must always be tool-controlled
06
Operational Standards
6.1 — Suspended Load Control

Hand contact with moving or suspended loads is strictly prohibited.

Mandatory Controls
  • Taglines for directional control
  • Push–pull tools for positioning
Critical Rule
Final alignment must be completed using tools only. Hands enter only after load is fully at rest and secured.
6.2 — Pinch Points & Line of Fire

Hands shall not enter: gaps, mechanical interfaces, tension zones.

Mandatory Controls
  • Mechanical holders
  • Remote handling tools
  • Controlled positioning devices
6.3 — Impact & Striking Tasks

Manual holding during striking is prohibited.

Mandatory Controls
  • Chisel and punch holders
  • Mechanical stabilization systems
6.4 — Rotating & Energised Equipment

No hand interaction with moving systems.

Mandatory Controls
Only permitted control: Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO)
6.5 — Material Handling & Storage

No direct hand positioning of pipes, sheets, or structural components.

Mandatory Controls
  • Guiding tools
  • Magnetic or mechanical handling aids
07
Task-Based Implementation Model

All operations must be mapped into 6 HONT Task Categories:

  • Suspended Load Control
  • Positioning & Alignment
  • Pinch Point Operations
  • Impact Tasks
  • Retrieval from Hazard Zones
  • Material Handling

Each category must have:

  • Defined exposure points
  • Approved tool controls
  • Standard execution method
08
Integration into Work Systems
8.1 — Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

Every JSA must include:

Critical Rule
"Where is the hand in this task?"

If hand exposure exists:

  • The task must be redesigned
  • Or escalated for exception approval
8.2 — Exception Protocol

Hand contact is allowed only if:

  • No engineered solution exists
  • Risk is formally documented
  • Approval is obtained from Safety Head

Each exception must include:

  • Reason for exposure
  • Temporary control measures
  • Timeline for elimination
8.3 — Tool as Primary Control

No-touch tools are classified as critical safety controls — not accessories.

Mandatory Controls
  • Mandatory availability at point of use
  • Weekly inspection
  • Immediate removal if damaged
09
Roles & Accountability

Management

  • Ensure tool availability across all task categories
  • Standardise controls across departments
  • Treat tool deployment as a safety investment

Supervisors

  • Enforce task-level compliance
  • Verify correct tool usage before task execution

Workforce

  • Execute tasks using approved tools only
  • Refuse unsafe hand-based methods
10
Stop Work Authority (SWA)

Any individual can stop work if:

  • Hands are used in place of tools
  • Tools are bypassed
  • Exposure is observed
Principle
SWA is: Immediate · Protected · Non-punitive
11
Compliance Framework
Positive Reinforcement

Recognition for zero hand exposure operations.

Violation Classification
Critical Rule
Hand use in restricted tasks = Critical Safety Violation
12
Deployment Requirements

Each site must implement:

A

Tool Availability System

  • Tools present at point of use
  • No dependency on retrieval or sharing
B

Visual Control

  • Pinch points identified and marked
  • Tool zones defined
C

Audit System

  • Task-level audits based on HONT categories
  • Not general safety audits

Implementation & Support

For organisations seeking to implement or customise this standard:

PSC Hand Safety India Private Limited
www.handsafetyindia.com sales@pschandsafety.com +91-96031-66448