Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By paul harman
As a result of poor accident stats regarding cuts to hands over the last couple of months, my company has decided that a glove policy should be implemented. Can anyone point me in the right direction please.
Paul
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jerry Lucey
Paul,
Prior to implementing a glove policy a risk assessment should be conducted and work practices should be examined. Personal Protective Equipment should be considered as a last line of defence.
If you do go the glove route you will need to enter into consultation with employees in order to choose the most acceptable as well as effective option.
Training is important in the use and maintenance of any personal protective equipment chosen. Training should include the need for personnel to report faulty equipment to their supervisor.
The most important element Paul is your risk assessment and showing that you have considered other options along the hierarchy of controls before resorting to PPE as a sole solution, if this is the case.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Frank Hallett
What Jerry said - plus
Don't lose sight of the impact upon any manual handling task - gloves can turn a reaonably well-controlled activity into a very dangerous one from a MH aspect.
Frank Hallett
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Paul
Can the tasks that present the cut hazard be eliminated or reduced, perhaps by automation, mechanisation or re-engineering the work?
Paul
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Chris Packham
First action:- Review the reasons for the incidence of cuts. Are these associated with one particular task or type of activity? What is the process that is involved?
Second action:- Can the process or work method be changed or can you introduce other techniques, e.g. safety knives, to reduce or eliminate the hazard?
Third action:- Training - have the workers involved been provided with appropriate training in how to complete their task safely? Should this training be repeated or upgraded for greater effectiveness?
Only when these steps are completed and your risk assessment indicates a residual risk should you consider gloves. Gloves as cut protection can be a two-edged sword (excuse the pun!). I have found situations where the only glove that the employer could use that provided protection against the original risk introduced new ones that were even worse!
And don't forget: Gloves are not cheap. At the the good ones that work aren't!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Merv Newman
Philosophical point to add to the discussion : I have known two identical work situations. High speed stamping of copper strip. One (in France) had the rule "you will always wear gloves unless you cannot". The other (USA) had the rule "Gloves will be worn when necessary"
Identical first aid injuries rates. (one or two per year)
BUT THE NOISE LEVEL IN THE US PLANT WAS HORRENDOUS !
However. The question is ; which way are you going to go ?
Actually, now I think about it, I do have another stamping shop (car bodies) with 800 employees. No LTIs since 2004. Safety shoes, glasses, bump caps, ear plugs, Kevlar gloves mandatory for anyone exposed to sheet metal, and all at 90 - 100%. Including press-tool maintenance contractors. Comes from a boss who really cares about the H&S of his people.
Yves-Marie : kisskiss (north-east of France)(in Paris it's kisskisskisskiss) And as for down-south ! (rem : promised to respect AUG)
Bisouses
Merv
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By David Kimmins
Paul
I have worked in two industries were there have been glove policies. I implemented the glove policy currently in use where I work today. It is only applicable in a few countries where they have full service meat cutters still in the stores.
The meat cutters, who have to wear a cut resistant glove on the non-knife hand when cutting meat/fish etc.. As for the knife hand we redesigned the knife's grip and extended a sort of built in hilt (rare to find on a fillet knife) to prevent boning out injuires where the knife hand slides off the handle and onto the blade. Nasty accident, but the knife redesign negated the need for two gloves.
Long story short, we reduced these types of accidents by over 60% in the first month and reduced lost workdays considerable becuase each of these accidents averaged 8 lost workdays.
David
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Andrew W
Paul,
I have a friend and collegue who implemented a glove policy in a business which produces razor strip which reduced incidents from more or less 2 reportables a month to practically zero. I can't give his name out here but if you contact me directly I'll put you in touch with him
Andy W
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.