Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Protect Yourself — from Head to Toe to Fingertip

When it comes to health and safety, the manufacturing industry does not have a stellar record.

In 2015, the industry had 33,013 lost-time injuries and illnesses in Canada—the second-highest rate of all the sectors. In addition, 177 workers lost their lives—again, the second-highest rate.

Manufacturing workers face all kinds of challenges. From the long term risk of musculoskeletal injuries, to the daily risk of chemical exposure or accidents in the workplace, workers have a lot to keep in mind.

Most hazards require a multipronged approach, including engineering controls, training, and proper PPE.

A key piece of PPE in the manufacturing industry is proper gloves to protect against sharp objects, chemicals, and heat.

The variety of dangers can make it difficult to find the right pair, particularly for workers who are required to use fine motor movements.

To pick the right glove, a company will need to do a job analysis that identifies the hazards, including the specific chemicals workers could be exposed to. Different materials protect against different types of hazards. Once that’s done, testing may be involved to find the right fit and flexibility so workers can do the job safely, effectively, and comfortably.

If your workplace has specific gloves that you use, make sure you inspect them before putting them on. Damaged and worn-out gloves should be discarded. Always follow the care and cleaning instructions to ensure the gloves don’t degrade prematurely.

Source: cos-mag.com

Protect Yourself — from Head to Toe to Fingertip

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