Press Release 9137
Date of Issue: 14th July
Unconditional glove
With advancements in technology and an increase in the risks workers are exposed to, Mark Mastrangelo, Marketing Manager for Polyco, discusses how selecting the correct hand protection is critical.
The earliest reference to the use of gloves dates back to Roman times when gloves made of linen and silk were worn to keep hands grease free and clean during mealtimes.
It wasn’t until the 13th Century that gloves started to be worn as a fashion accessory, with glove wearing becoming a symbol of wealth or power. A number of well-known figures throughout history have become recognised for their glove wearing, such as Michael Jackson and the Queen.
Moving through history the evolution of the glove has continued, with the introduction of new materials and manufacturing processes that has seen the use of gloves expanding into new activities like: gardening, driving and goal keeping.
In more recent years, with the advanced technologies available, new processes such as 3D printing are being pioneered to produce items like hand protection. BMW was one of the first organisations to produce custom thumb guards through 3D printing. The thumb guards are specifically used by workers assembling cars, to help reduce the stress placed on their joints during this process. The gloves are created by individually scanning each recipient’s hand and then customising to match the form and size of a worker’s hand. This revolutionary manufacturing process is just the beginning of what is to come for the hand protection industry.
Keeping hands safe
Gloves play a big role in ensuring the safety of workers, protecting their hands from potential injury such as, cuts, abrasions and even skin disease. Hand protection as a means of personal protective equipment (PPE) is regarded as a last resort. If employees are at risk of injury to hands and arms that can’t be eliminated through engineering and work practice controls then the appropriate hand protection will need to be provided.
Hand protection is crucial, as figures released by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for 2012/13 showed that there were more than 17,400 handling injuries to employees. This together with figures from 2010/11 show that more than 3,300 handling injuries were through cuts from sharp material or equipment, highlighting the need for hand protection to be provided to all workers exposed to such risk of injury.
Protecting workers against a potential hand injury isn’t just about safeguarding them against potentially life changing injuries, but also about protecting the business itself. The loss of a worker for a long period of time or in some instances forever can have a serious impact on the income of the business.
Choosing the right glove is critical
Once a risk assessment has been carried out and it has been established that hand protection is required, the next task is the process of determining the most appropriate glove for the job. The nature of the hazard and the operation involved will of course have an effect on the selection of glove. Workers must use gloves that are designed for the hazards and tasks identified, as a glove designed for one particular function may not protect against another. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ glove.
With such a wide variety of gloves available on the market it can be a confusing and complicated process to choose the most appropriate pair for the job. Picking the right hand protection is critical, because if it is not done so correctly it can result in exposing a worker to unnecessary risk.
To help sort through the sea of options and ensure you make the right decision, Polyco, experts in hand protection, offer a best practice initiative in the form of their Hand Protection Assessment Survey (HPAS).
The HPAS service from Polyco is available free of charge to companies with 50+ employees and helps to identify the exact specification of the most suitable hand protection. The assessment is carried out by knowledgeable industry experts who offer the following:
· A documented process that will support risk assessment procedures
· A review of existing hand protection and an audit of requirements
· Identification of areas where improvements can be made financially
· Advice on adhering to best practice procedures
· Professional industry expertise and advice
· Identification of the right gloves for each task to be carried out efficiently and safely
· A safeguard against injury claims and time lost due to workplace injury
· A comprehensive report, highlighting the most appropriate specifications of hand and arm protection.
Glove selection in action
Polyco has worked closely with a number of companies helping to identify and select the correct hand protection for the job. Recently, Polyco worked with CarillionWSP to determine the most suitable glove for their road workers whose responsibility is to lay out cones, signs and barriers.
The workers were experiencing a loss of grip with their existing gloves and it became clear they needed to find a glove that would suit working in wet, dry and oily conditions, which is when they called upon Polyco’s expertise.
One of Carillions WSP’s Impact Protection Vehicles was brought to the Polyco headquarters in Enfield, North London, for a live demonstration of the issues workers had when setting out cones and signs on the roads. The trials helped to identify a safety glove that would suit the conditions faced by the workers in their day-to-day activities. After trialling more than 20 pairs of gloves, it was agreed that the Grip It Oil offered the best grip in the various conditions along with good abrasion resistance, durability and a long life expectancy.
The work carried out with CarillionWSP was recently acknowledged with a Safety Excellence Award at this year’s British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Safety Awards, recognising the improvements they made to occupational health and safety of CarillionWSP workers.
As the glove has advanced throughout history, it has seen the hand protection market become an overcrowded place, resulting in a plethora of choice for health and safety and procurement teams. With the use of Polyco’s HPAS service, there is a way of making the process as easy and as straightforward as possible. Polyco is currently in the final stages of an accreditation process with the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) and will shortly be launching a training course that will help specifiers and purchasers of hand protection make the most appropriate decision.
To find out more information or to keep up-to-date on the latest news from Polyco, please visit www.polyco.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @PolycoGloves.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
Photo Caption:
About BM Polyco Ltd
Founded in 1979, Polyco is the UK’s market leader in designing, developing and supplying high quality hand protection to the professional and consumer sectors. Polyco’s underlying success is based on the simple principle of continuous improvement through innovation, quality and service. In July 2010 Polyco acquired Bodyguards and the merger of these businesses has formed one of the largest suppliers of hand protection to the European market.
The Professional Business Unit within Polyco, offers a comprehensive selection of gloves including: cut resistant, general use, hot and cold handling, chemical resistant, disposable, critical environment, as well as specialist and niche products. Its commitment is to find cost effective solutions to customers hand protection needs with the ultimate glove solution providing ‘Enhanced Manual Dexterity’ – the ability to work better, faster and safer with Polyco gloves than without.
With the benefit of advanced and independently audited testing facilities on site, Polyco’s Quality Systems surpass any regulatory requirements and furthermore Polyco’s gloves are retested at point of distribution. Polyco is accredited to ISO9001; 2008 for PPE in conformity with the Personal Protective Equipment Directive 89/686/EEC.
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Press Release Reference No: 9137