Upcoming webinar by Superior Glove hand safety specialist Shane Nider will address regulatory guidelines and answer questions about best products and practices
Prior to 2020, few people outside of those working in health, safety, and industrial environments would recognize the term PPE. Jump ahead three years and it would be difficult to find someone that hasn’t heard of it. Yet, for all the strides made in the types of PPE available to today’s workers, awareness and regulation surrounding hand safety continues to lag.
“Much more needs to be done to address preventable workplace hand injuries,” says Shane Nider, hand safety specialist at Superior Glove. “Compared to head-to-toe PPE, regulation, guidelines, and education concerning hand protection in manufacturing, construction, oil, gas, and other industrial environments is sparse.”
With an alarming lack of awareness about the frequency of workplace hand injuries, and what can be done to protect workers while they’re on the job, work-related hand injuries remain the number one preventable industrial accident worldwide.
To help individuals and team leaders who work in industrial environments protect against hand injuries, Nider will host a master webinar session titled: “Understanding cut hazards: How to choose the best hand protection.” The event will address myths and misconceptions associated with what many believe is adequate protection, and will show attendees what to look for in effective cut-resistant materials and glove designs that are best suited to the required application.
Hand injuries occur when workers are wearing the wrong gloves or, worse yet, no hand protection at all. Common injuries include cuts and lacerations, punctures to the palms of the hands, and forceful blows to the back of the hand.
Despite a full range of work glove options on the market today, a surprising number of industrial team leaders and workers are not aware of the differences in materials or levels of protection different gloves provide. Many individuals are also under the impression industrial grade gloves are uncomfortable and can inhibit job performance.
“Not all gloves are created equal, nor do they offer the same performance levels where cut hazards are present,” says Nider. “Misinformation in this area is what can lead to serious injury.”
As an expert in cut-resistant glove materials and effective industrial glove attributes, Nider helps team leaders and workers understand the advantages and limitations associated with different materials, and helps workers differentiate between the levels of protection needed for the types of hazards their jobs or job sites can pose. “We’ve been making gloves since 1910. Over 100 years later we’re still innovating to meet the evolving needs of the industries we serve,” Nider says.
While innovations in industrial gloves have come a long way, Nider says PPE will never be a silver bullet. “All the protective equipment in the world can’t help workers who are unaware of the hazards associated with their jobs or are unmotivated to take the right steps to prevent injuries,” he says.
It’s up to workplace leaders to ensure best practices are upheld. “Companies need a formal hand safety program that includes an effective mindfulness training component. It’s about workplace culture, motivation, and leadership.”
Superior Glove is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of safety gloves, sleeves, and complementary PPE. Since 1910, they have been protecting workers across the globe with specialized hand and arm protection for every major industry. Nider’s upcoming webinar will address causal factors, innovations in cut-resistant materials, and the types of gloves needed for the protection required. Attendees can participate in a question/answer component to find out how they can mitigate injuries at their own worksites.
Is it time to improve the hand safety protocols at your workplace? Reserve your spot at the Understanding cut hazards: How to choose the best hand protection webinar to find out more.
